The German government plans to order attack drones worth 536 million euros (about $638 million) from German startups Helsing and Stark Defense, as part of efforts to rearm the country after Russia's attack on Ukraine.
As The Economic Times writes, the contracts for unmanned aerial weapons, otherwise known as kamikaze drones, i.e. those that hover over the target area before striking, are part of a broader framework agreement worth 4.3 billion euros.
According to documents obtained by Reuters, the contracts are expected to be formally approved by the Budget Committee of the Bundestag, the lower house of the German parliament.
The news was first reported by Spiegel magazine.
The drones will initially be used to support Germany's 45th Tank Brigade, which is deployed in Lithuania, as part of strengthening NATO's eastern flank.
According to the documents, the contracts with the two companies will have a term of seven years, while the first delivery of the drones is planned for early 2027.