Germany is preparing legislation that will allow its military to take the fight to foreign hackers and spies after a spate of state sponsored attacks. The new laws will give greater flexibility to the intelligence agencies, allowing them to conduct cyber operations abroad and providing security services with greater tools to counter grey zone threats domestically.

Germany, like several European countries, has been the victim of Russian digital and hybrid attacks in recent years. It has seen drone incursions over airports in Berlin and Munich and saw its air traffic control system fall victim to a cyberattack. In a recent interview with Süddeutsche Zeitung, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said Germany would “fight back, even abroad. We will disrupt attackers and destroy their infrastructure.”

The move serves as a realignment of the country’s approach to offensive military operations, with the nation earning a reputation for being cautious and muted in its use of hard power, particularly in response to Moscow.

Last year, UK Defence Secretary John Healey spoke candidly on the threat posed by Russia, claiming “we’ve seen Russian incursions into NATO airspace double and we’ve seen 90,000 cyber-attacks on the UK Defence system alone.”

Healey announced that the military would be given enhanced powers to target Russia, warning that the keyboard has become a weapon of war”.

Healey confirmed that offensive operations will be conducted through a new Cyber and Electromagnetic Command, which will also oversee a £1 billion investment in upgraded targeting systems using an artificial intelligence “kill web” that connects military systems.

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Reforms in Germany are expected to be finalised by the end of the year.

An adaptation to intelligence laws will require a change in the constitution, requiring a two thirds majority in the German Bundestag parliament as well as the Bundesrat that represents German regional states.

Henning Zanetti, a spokesperson at Germany’s Interior Ministry said: “Cyber defense is aimed at actively preventing, stopping, or at least mitigating attacks if they pose a serious threat.

“As with police action in analogous cases, this is done with the focus on eliminating the existing threat, regardless of who is responsible for it.”

The move has growing consensus amongst German political parties, although a member of the Greens has expressed concerns about legal considerations.

Jeanne Dillschneider, a Greens member who sits on the defense and digital committees, claimed that the move showed German Interior Minister Dobrindt “talking big” but didn’t include the detail on legalities.

She added: “What matters most is protecting authorities and companies. And the government still has a long way to go in that regard.”

She continued: “It’s a dangerous road to go on because if you are attacking a foreign country in peacetime it can spark all types of diplomatic intervention and catastrophe.”