A German soldier preparing to launch a drone during a combat exercise. Photo, PETER KNEFFEL.
Germany is reportedly set to equip its armed forces with loitering munitions for the first time amid rising geopolitical tensions in the region.
Two defense ministry sources told Reuters that contracts with two companies for the first batch of explosive drones will be finalized in the coming days, although specific details were not disclosed.
These drones will undergo testing by the German army, navy, and air force in the following months.
The sources also indicated that Berlin plans to sign longer-term contracts by the end of the year for a larger stockpile of suicide drones.
Despite growing interest, Germany has not yet fully integrated loitering munitions into its military, likely due to its conservative defense stance and ethical concerns surrounding the use of autonomous lethal platforms.
Learning From Ukraine.
Loitering munitions are one-way attack drones that loiter over a target area before self-destructing or detonating upon impact.
These munitions have proven vital in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, enabling both sides to strike high-value targets with precision and disrupt enemy operations.
“The use of drones and the defense against drones is crucial for the survival of our troops on the modern battlefield,” one of the sources said. “That’s something we learned in Ukraine.”
The source also emphasized that every German soldier must be trained to operate drones, given the rapidly evolving landscape of modern warfare.
The initial contracts for loitering munitions will reportedly focus on a limited number for training, with larger orders expected on short notice.
