Germany’s €942M kamikaze drone deal hits technical snags and delays
Germany's Defense Ministry is facing delays in acquiring kamikaze drones due to technical issues. The ministry is working with three companies - Helsing, Stark Defence, and Rheinmetall - to deliver up to 12,000 drones worth €942 million. However, the supply for the Lithuania Brigade in early 2027 may be at risk.
Field trials in October exposed problems with the Stark drone's performance and the Helsing drone's warhead. The ministry maintains dialogue with the manufacturers, who are behind schedule on deliveries. This is not entirely surprising, given the risks of rapid mass procurement. Meanwhile, Rheinmetall's Raider drone is still in its early development phase. The ministry's plan to acquire thousands of drones is ambitious, but the current challenges may cause delays in fulfilling this goal.
The German Defense Ministry's drone acquisition plan is facing hurdles due to technical issues with the drones provided by Helsing and Stark Defence. While the ministry remains in dialogue with the suppliers, the supply for the Lithuania Brigade may be at risk until early 2027. The ministry's ambitious plan to acquire thousands of drones is still underway, but the current challenges may cause delays in its implementation.
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