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Germany Turns to Loitering Munitions to Modernize its Military in Response to Ukraine War.
As loitering munitions—often referred to as "kamikaze drones"—have become key assets in contemporary conflicts, particularly in Ukraine, Germany officially announced on Friday, April 4, 2025, its decision to equip its armed forces with this type of system. This shift marks a major strategic inflection in German military doctrine, traditionally cautious when it comes to automated offensive weapons. The decision is part of a broader effort to modernize the Bundeswehr’s military capabilities, launched in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and aimed at preparing the German armed forces for high-intensity warfare.
In November 2024, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced a separate order of 4,000 HX-2 drones for delivery to Ukraine. (Picture source: Helsing)
The German Federal Ministry of Defense confirmed the signing of two contracts for the delivery of loitering munitions—drones equipped with explosive payloads designed to detect, approach, and destroy a target through direct collision. These hybrid systems, which combine surveillance and strike functions, have demonstrated significant battlefield effectiveness in Ukraine, where both Russian and Ukrainian forces employ them extensively. According to ministry spokesperson Mitko Müller, the initial acquisitions are limited in number and are intended to allow the Bundeswehr to gain operational experience before expanding their deployment. He also emphasized that, despite the increasing integration of artificial intelligence, human operators will retain control over firing decisions—an issue that remains central to debates surrounding autonomous weapon systems.
Although the Ministry did not officially disclose the names of the selected manufacturers, German media identified Helsing and Stark Defense as the two involved companies—both German-founded technology firms specializing in artificial intelligence for defense applications. Their selection reflects a political will to invest in sovereign technological capabilities, support domestic innovation, and accelerate the digital transformation of the Bundeswehr. The objective is to endow Germany with credible tools against contemporary threats, whether asymmetric, hybrid, or technologically advanced.
Among the systems identified, Helsing produces the HX-2, a 12-kilogram loitering munition in an X-wing aerodynamic configuration, featuring a silent electric motor, a range of 100 km, and a top speed of 220 km/h. This drone can carry various warhead types—anti-tank, anti-structure, or multi-effect—and is noted for its resilience against electronic countermeasures. It can operate without GPS and is resistant to jamming. The HX-2 is designed for swarm deployment, coordinated via a single operator interface using the proprietary Altra software developed by Helsing. This AI-enabled platform allows one operator to command multiple drones simultaneously, combining mass deployment with targeted precision in a strategy aimed at rapidly degrading enemy capabilities.
Stark Defense, led by former German Army helicopter pilot Florian Seibel, is developing a range of armed drones featuring a high level of autonomy. While specific technical details remain limited, Stark’s systems are reportedly undergoing testing in Ukraine, within contested electromagnetic environments. These drones are said to rely on artificial intelligence algorithms capable of autonomous navigation, target identification, and engagement with minimal human supervision. The company's goal is to develop systems that can operate collaboratively and adaptively in intelligent swarms without constant communication with a command center—signaling a move toward distributed automated warfare models that reduce dependency on centralized structures.
This push to acquire and deploy drone technologies comes as Germany reconsiders its defense priorities. A debate continues between supporters of traditional weapons programs—such as the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), a joint project with France and Spain currently facing delays—and advocates for more agile, decentralized architectures based on drone networks. In this evolving landscape, where technological progress in the defense sector is accelerating, loitering munitions are emerging as an immediately deployable and scalable solution.
This initiative is part of the €100 billion rearmament plan announced by Chancellor Olaf Scholz in 2022 in response to the conflict in Ukraine. The fund is intended to address long-standing capability shortfalls following years of underinvestment, with the aim of building a more modern, better-equipped Bundeswehr capable of fulfilling collective defense obligations within NATO. The acquisition of loitering munitions demonstrates a willingness to act swiftly in key areas of military transformation and to embrace a doctrinal shift. It also signals a gradual departure from the post–Cold War restraint toward the use of automated offensive systems—a shift accelerated by the realities of modern warfare as seen in Ukraine.
Furthermore, in November 2024, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced a separate order of 4,000 HX-2 drones for delivery to Ukraine. These units, designed for precision strikes up to 40 km behind enemy lines, were intended to target command posts, logistics hubs, and other tactical objectives on Russian territory. This deployment likely served as a real-world testing ground for the system’s performance and contributed to building trust between the German government and the involved manufacturers, paving the way for their gradual integration into Germany’s military inventory.
Until now, the Bundeswehr's drone capabilities were limited to unarmed ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance) platforms, such as the Israeli-made Heron, primarily used for troop protection and aerial surveillance. The introduction of loitering munitions marks a significant leap in both capability and doctrine. This evolution mirrors broader trends among Western armed forces, which are adapting to new operational realities shaped by electronic warfare, system automation, decision-making autonomy, and long-range strike technologies.
Germany’s decision to integrate loitering munitions into its military doctrine represents a critical step in reshaping its defense posture. By incorporating AI-powered technologies and relying on domestic platforms developed by companies such as Helsing and Stark Defense, Germany is positioning itself to become a technologically advanced military power in Europe. The initial deliveries are expected to form the basis for a broader adoption in the coming years, progressively redefining how the Bundeswehr approaches future conflict scenarios.