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Germany taps Airbus, Rheinmetall, and startups for next-gen strike drones

29 July 2025 20:22

Germany is moving forward with plans to develop advanced long-range strike drones capable of hitting deep targets in enemy territory, as part of a broader military modernisation effort.

According to Handelsblatt, preparations are underway within the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) to build autonomous drones with extended range and near-supersonic speed.

The German Air Force has reached out to both major defence contractors and start-ups for conceptual proposals. In response, three consortia are now engaged in developing preliminary designs. Among the participants are Airbus Defence, working alongside US-based start-up Kratos; Rheinmetall, collaborating with drone manufacturer Anduril; and the Munich-based AI and defence start-up Helsing.

“These drones must travel thousands of kilometres, fly to their targets independently and, if possible, remain undetected,” Handelsblatt reported. The Bundeswehr aims to introduce the first units by 2029.

The specifications call for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with a flight range exceeding 1,000 kilometers, speeds approaching the sound barrier, and fully autonomous capabilities powered by artificial intelligence. While the German Ministry of Defence has confirmed that preliminary talks have taken place, a formal tender has yet to be issued.

The push for next-generation drone technology comes alongside a wider debate in Berlin over military readiness and troop numbers. General Carsten Breuer, Inspector General of the Bundeswehr, has warned that Germany must significantly expand its armed forces to meet NATO obligations and ensure national defense amid heightened tensions with Russia.

Currently, the Bundeswehr maintains approximately 182,000 active-duty personnel. However, under NATO’s new defense planning framework, Germany is expected to field a force of 395,000 troops—an increase of more than 80%. To meet that goal, the Bundeswehr is aiming for a combined force of 460,000 personnel, including 200,000 active-duty soldiers and 260,000 reservists.

“This number can only be achieved with military service—whether it’s compulsory or voluntary is a political decision,” said Breuer.

At present, Germany has about 60,000 reservists in its permanent reserve. The military plans to train 100,000 more by the end of the decade and hopes to recruit an additional 100,000 from the pool of approximately 800,000 former service members who have left the armed forces in recent years. Despite these efforts, Breuer acknowledged that “a gap of 100,000 still remains.”

In response to these challenges, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has expressed openness to reintroducing a form of military service, possibly as early as later this year—contingent on political support and the continuity of his position in the next government.

A parliamentary report released in March by Germany’s commissioner for the armed forces highlighted persistent problems within the Bundeswehr, including personnel shortfalls and outdated equipment, further underscoring the urgency of reform.

By Tamilla Hasanova

Caliber.Az
Views: 600

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