The „Hesse“ frigate opened fire after efforts to identify an unknown drone „were unsuccessful“, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said during a visit to the German town of Oberviechtach, adding however that the target was „not hit“.

The drone later turned out to be a „reconnaissance drone“, he said.

According to Der Spiegel weekly, the frigate fired two missiles at the drone but both crashed into the sea because of „a technical defect“.