Germany has announced plans to procure 12,000 one-way attack drones to equip its newly established mechanized brigade in Lithuania.
The defense ministry has proposed a budget of 150 million euros ($173 million) for the purchase from three domestic manufacturers, with contracts expected to be finalized by 2025.
Helsing and Stark have already been commissioned for testing, while Rheinmetall serves as the third supplier.
According to the Financial Times, each firm will receive around 300 million euros ($346 million) for phased deliveries, beginning with an initial batch of 10,000 drones.
Helsing will reportedly manufacture half of the total order, while Stark will handle a slightly larger portion of the remainder through its Virtus drone.
Helsing’s cost-efficient HX-2 drone secured the largest share of production, whereas Rheinmetall’s FV-104 model is the most expensive.
All three companies have ramped up drone production in recent months in preparation for the deal. The semi-autonomous drones are expected to have an operational range of roughly 100 kilometers (62 miles), featuring AI-driven navigation and targeting, while keeping humans in control of final engagement decisions.
