Black Forest mountain rescue deploys 100-kg cargo drone, a first for German security authorities

The new drone

The Bergwacht Schwarzwald introduced a cargo drone capable of carrying up to 100 kilograms of equipment directly to the scene of a rescue. Operational since May, the device is one of the first in its payload class to be deployed by a security authority in Germany, the mountain rescue service said.

Impact on rescue operations

Previously, mountain rescuers had to transport heavy gear on foot through difficult terrain, often under rope safety. A single rescue vehicle’s full load can exceed 200 kilograms.

“If we bring this to the site with a few drone flights, it’s an enormous time gain – especially on steep, rockfall-prone slopes, of which there are many in the Black Forest.”

He added that this means reaching the patient faster and improving helper safety.

Technological leap

The acquisition was triggered by rapid advances in drone technology. Last autumn, models with a 30-kilogram payload were presented. A few months later, the next generation arrived with stronger batteries and a lift capacity of up to 100 kilograms. The Black Forest unit moved quickly to secure that capability.

Beyond mountain rescue

The drone’s potential extends beyond classic rescue missions. In cut-off areas or where infrastructure is destroyed – after landslides, storms, or heavy snow – it could deliver medical supplies or relief goods where vehicles cannot pass. The purchase was financed by disaster-protection funds from the state of Baden-Württemberg.

Official launch

The project is currently in a test phase and a specialist pilot team is being trained. The drone will be formally commissioned on 27 June at the nationwide Civil Protection Day in Freiburg by Interior Minister Manuel Hagel.