The German Bundestag’s Budget Committee gave the green light on Monday to six new 25‑million‑euro procurement packages earmarked for the Bundeswehr’s large‑scale projects. Among the approvals were two framework agreements for loitering munition systems (LMS), commonly referred to as “kamikaze drones”.
Under the first stage of the program, the defense start‑ups Stark Defence and Helsing will place an order for a fixed number of these drones. However, the full budget cannot be drawn down until the products satisfy the required qualification criteria and meet the operational needs of the armed forces. The contracts also include no mandatory obligation for the Bundeswehr to take up the entire optional quantity specified in the framework.
The German Ministry of Defence has stressed that recent conflicts have highlighted the essential role of LMS in modern militaries. These systems can loiter for extended periods before engaging a target. Equipped with onboard sensors, they can autonomously detect ground targets and relay the information to the operator. Once the system receives authorization, the munition-together with its warhead-can strike the target with high precision.
Importantly, the ministry reiterated that human operators maintain command over the operation. The relatively large distance at which LMS can act is expected to reduce the risk to soldiers on the ground.