Purchase of kamikaze drones
Bundeswehr awards Rheinmetall billion-euro contract for loitering ammunition
The Bundeswehr has awarded a major contract in the field of unmanned weapons systems. Rheinmetall AG was awarded the contract for so-called loitering ammunition of the FV-014 type. The contract was signed in Koblenz and delivery is scheduled to begin in 2027.
According to Rheinmetall, the framework agreement is worth billions, with the first call-off amounting to around 300 million euros. The order is due to be booked in April 2026. The FV-014 system will have a range of up to 100 kilometers, remain airborne for around 70 minutes and carry a warhead weighing around four kilograms. According to Rheinmetall, production will take place entirely in the EU.
Loitering munitions, also known colloquially as "kamikaze drones", combine reconnaissance and weapons deployment in a single system. The missiles circle over an operational area, detect targets and then strike themselves. The system is not intended to return and is destroyed during the mission.
In addition to Rheinmetall, competitors such as Stark and Helsing have also been awarded framework agreements with the Bundeswehr.
The growing proximity of education, target selection and impact in a system is viewed critically.
You might also be interested in
Stratasys takes over MarkForged
Stratasys is acquiring MarkForged from Nano Dimension for USD 42.5 million, thereby expanding its portfolio in the field of fiber-reinforced composites. The acquisition also strengthens the company's software and materials expertise in industrial 3D...
read more...Schaeffler reaches for the stars
Why an automotive supplier also wants to build satellites in the future
Schaeffler enters the space industry together with US aerospace company Spire Global. Plans include satellite hardware, European supply chains and industrial manufacturing for New Space.
read more...New representative of the Siemens branch in Mannheim
Carsten Koch has taken over the role of representative of the Siemens AG Mannheim branch. He succeeds Jürgen Britzius, who is taking early retirement after 37 years with the company.
read more...Why stability is becoming a brand again
Wuppertal-based specialist financier focuses more strongly on Vorwerk affiliation
Rebranding at akf group: the Wuppertal-based bank will in future more clearly demonstrate its affiliation to the Vorwerk Group and position itself as a specialized financing partner for German SMEs.
read more...New sales and service unit in Gurugram
Yamaha Motor expands robotics business in India
Yamaha Motor is opening a new Robotics Business Support Division in India to strengthen sales and service in the growing robotics market. The unit will support SMT systems and industrial robots, among other things, and will be complemented by a...
read more...Winners, categories & highlights of the award ceremony
The Startup Association has presented the German Startup Awards 2026 in Berlin. An overview of all the winners from the Founder, Investor, Newcomer and Impact categories.
read more...New defense trade fair in Hanover
DSEI Germany appoints three former Bundeswehr leaders to the advisory board
For its premiere in Hanover in 2027, Defense and Security Equipment International (DSEI) Germany is bringing three former Bundeswehr executives onto its advisory board.
read more...Family-owned company invests 28 million euros in Nuremberg site
Anyone talking about German industry at the moment is often talking about uncertainty: a weak economy, high costs, global upheavals. A different story is being told in Nuremberg.
read more...Interview: What industrial companies in the defense sector underestimate
Rising defense budgets are opening up new market opportunities for industrial companies. But if you want to enter the defense sector as a company, you need more than just technological expertise. In this interview, lawyer Oliver Huq explains what is...
read more...