The German government is moving ahead with a large-scale plan to procure 12,000 one-way attack drones for deployment with its new mechanized brigade in Lithuania, reinforcing NATO’s eastern flank and signaling Germany’s deeper investment in next-generation defense technologies.
The acquisition, valued at 150 million euros ($173 million), will be sourced from three German defense contractors — Helsing, Stark, and Rheinmetall — with full contract execution expected by 2025. Helsing and Stark have already been commissioned for prototype testing, while Rheinmetall is preparing its FV-104 drone for evaluation.
Further details from the Financial Times indicate that each company will eventually receive 300 million euros ($346 million) for staggered deliveries, beginning with a 10,000-drone production phase. Helsing’s low-cost HX-2 model reportedly secured the largest share of the contract, while Stark’s Virtus drone will contribute most of the remaining units. The higher-priced FV-104 by Rheinmetall represents the top-end option in the lineup.
These semi-autonomous loitering munitions are expected to have a range of up to 100 kilometers (62 miles) and utilize AI-driven navigation and targeting technologies. Human operators will maintain oversight and decision-making authority to ensure compliance with operational and ethical standards. The manufacturers have expanded their drone production capabilities in anticipation of the order, reflecting Germany’s growing commitment to AI-enabled warfare and rapid-response systems across Europe.
