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US and European Union officials are investigating an incident involving the German frigate Hessen, which fired upon a USS MQ-9 drone during a naval mission in the Red Sea.

The German vessel, participating in a mission to safeguard marine traffic, launched two Standard Missile-2 interceptors at the unmanned aerial vehicle, both of which failed to connect. The drone, lacking a transponder signal for identification, was unharmed and continued its surveillance mission.

The incident has sparked a dialogue on operational protocols, as the German frigate’s actions came shortly after obtaining parliamentary consent to join the EU’s Operation Aspides, designed to protect key maritime routes from drone and missile threats, notably from Yemen’s Houthi rebels.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has addressed the incident, acknowledging that a German vessel has engaged hostile drones and had an unsuccessful interception attempt against an “unspecified” aircraft.