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Stark Virtus German VTOL Kamikaze Drone Shaped by Battlefield Experience in Ukraine.
On April 14, 2025, the German company Stark, which specializes in next-generation defense technologies, officially revealed the specifications of its new autonomous loitering munition, the Virtus drone. Designated OWE-V for One Way Effector – Vertical Take-Off, the system directly responds to operational requirements identified on today’s battlefields, particularly those emerging from the ongoing war in Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in 2022.
The Virtus drone features a VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) configuration, enabling its deployment in restricted or degraded environments without the need for dedicated infrastructure (Picture source: Stark)
Developed using feedback from the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Virtus is intended to provide Western militaries with an autonomous, responsive, and resilient strike capability. This announcement comes as Stark, already selected to deliver the first kamikaze drones to the German Bundeswehr, positions itself as a key player in the growing European market for intelligent loitering munitions. With operational presence in Berlin, Munich, and Kyiv, the company specifically targets NATO forces and strategic partners, foremost among them Ukraine.
The Virtus drone features a VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) configuration, enabling its deployment in restricted or degraded environments without the need for dedicated infrastructure. Its embedded algorithms for autonomous navigation and target recognition allow it to operate independently of constant operator communication, making it especially suited for contested or GPS-denied areas. Capable of autonomously locating, identifying, and engaging targets within a 100-kilometer radius, Virtus represents a notable shift toward autonomous lethal systems in modern military operations.
Equipped with a quiet electric propulsion system, the drone cruises at 120 km/h and can reach speeds of up to 250 km/h during terminal dive. It can remain airborne for up to 60 minutes and carry a modular payload of up to 5 kg, enabling it to be configured for various mission types, including anti-personnel, anti-armor, or electronic warfare roles. This flexibility makes Virtus suitable for deep strike missions, targeting enemy equipment or command infrastructure. Deployment time is minimal—just five minutes from storage to launch—allowing for rapid tactical response.
In addition to its strike capability, Virtus incorporates a Return-and-Land function, enabling the drone to autonomously return and land if no target is identified or engagement is deemed unfeasible. This feature significantly increases the system’s operational sustainability by allowing for reuse. The drone is managed via Minerva, Stark’s proprietary command-and-control software, which enables a single operator to coordinate and deploy multiple drones simultaneously. This distributed control approach facilitates swarm deployments, enabling coordinated missions such as saturation strikes or distributed reconnaissance.
The Virtus program relies entirely on European components, and Stark claims its production facilities are fully automated and designed for high-volume manufacturing. This industrial setup aligns with broader objectives for European strategic autonomy and meets NATO procurement standards for secure supply chains. While the company has not officially confirmed deployment of Virtus in Ukraine, its operational presence in Kyiv, along with the system’s intended use and capabilities, strongly suggests real-world testing or early fielding in the ongoing conflict with Russia.
With Virtus, Stark seeks to compete directly with other European loitering munition developers, notably Helsing, whose HX-2 drone is already in use by Ukrainian forces. The HX-2 also features autonomous strike capabilities, resistance to electronic countermeasures, electric propulsion, and a control interface based on Helsing’s proprietary Altra software. The competition between Stark and Helsing illustrates the growing strategic importance of intelligent drone systems, where autonomy, modularity, and swarm operation are defining performance criteria.
Virtus reflects a doctrinal evolution toward the integration of artificial intelligence into autonomous lethal systems. Its ability to operate without continuous oversight, navigate independently, and adapt to operational conditions in real time represents a shift aligned with the demands of modern electronic warfare and information-dense environments. More than a loitering munition, Virtus represents a platform designed for contemporary hybrid warfare and high-intensity conflict scenarios.
Stark Defense, led by former German Army helicopter pilot Florian Seibel, exemplifies a new generation of European defense companies focused on artificial intelligence, automation, and software-centric architectures to transform operational capabilities. Its systems are built to function in heavily contested electromagnetic environments, with GPS-independent navigation, automated target identification, and distributed operational frameworks that do not depend on centralized command. From the design phase, Stark has aimed to meet the new requirements of future warfare.
The company is one of two selected suppliers—alongside Helsing—chosen by the German Ministry of Defense to equip the Bundeswehr under the €100 billion rearmament plan announced by Chancellor Olaf Scholz following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. This decision reflects a political commitment to support domestic innovation, reinforce Germany’s defense industrial base, and accelerate the digital transition of the armed forces. Previously limited to unarmed ISR drones, the Bundeswehr is taking a significant doctrinal and technological step forward by integrating autonomous strike capabilities through systems like Virtus.