The Budget Committee of the German Bundestag approved six procurement projects for the Bundeswehr on Wednesday, each worth 25 million euros. Two of those deals are framework agreements to supply Loitering Munition Systems (LMS), commonly called “kamikaze drones”.
Under the first stage of the agreements, the defense startups Stark Defence and Helsing will receive orders for a fixed number of drones. Before the full 25‑million‑euro contract can be spent, the products must meet specified qualification standards and fulfil the armed forces’ requirements. However, there is no binding obligation to order the optional quantity that the framework contract covers.
According to the Federal Ministry of Defence, recent conflicts have shown that LMS are a key capability for modern armies. These systems can loiter in the air for extended periods, detect ground targets using on‑board sensors, and present the target to the operator. Once the operator authorises the strike, the munition, with its warhead, can engage the target with high precision. The ministry emphasized that the human operator retains control over the entire engagement. Because the drones can operate from a distance, the use of LMS can reduce the risk to soldiers on the ground.
