Germany to equip armed forces with loitering munitions for first time

In a major shift signaling how rapidly modern warfare is evolving, Germany is set to arm its military with loitering munitions—explosive drones capable of hovering over battlefields before striking targets—for the very first time.

Amid rising geopolitical tensions and lessons drawn from the war in Ukraine, Berlin is moving closer to integrating these so-called "suicide drones" into its defense strategy. According to two defense ministry sources who spoke to Reuters, contracts with two companies for the first batch of these drones are expected to be finalized within days. Specifics of the agreements have not been publicly disclosed.

Once secured, the loitering munitions will undergo testing by Germany’s army, navy, and air force over the coming months. In parallel, Berlin reportedly aims to sign longer-term contracts by the end of the year to build a larger arsenal of the technology.

While other countries have already adopted loitering munitions, Germany has been slower to act—possibly due to its traditionally cautious defense posture and the ethical debate surrounding autonomous lethal platforms. However, the tide appears to be turning.

Loitering munitions are one-way attack drones that circle above target zones and detonate on impact. They’ve played a pivotal role in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, allowing both sides to strike high-value targets with precision and disrupt enemy defenses.

“The use of drones and the defense against drones is crucial for the survival of our troops on the modern battlefield,” one source explained. “That’s something we learned in Ukraine.”

As part of this modernization push, Germany intends to train every soldier in drone operations, underlining how essential unmanned systems have become to frontline combat.

Initially, the upcoming contracts will focus on a limited number of drones to be used for training purposes. But defense officials say larger-scale orders could follow quickly as Germany accelerates its adoption of this new warfare capability.

By Tamilla Hasanova