German military targets 8,300 drone systems, lagging NATO allies
The German military is looking to secure 8,300 drone systems by the end of the decade, far fewer than some of its NATO allies aim for, as spending on unmanned defense systems and autonomous weapons soars globally.
Germany’s armed forces plan to acquire the unmanned aerial systems, each of which can include multiple drones and equipment such as launchers and flight controllers, by 2029, according to a list of the ministry’s requirements that was reviewed by Bloomberg News.
By comparison, millions of drones have been used by Ukraine and Russia during their war.
Drones as war machines
Both the US and UK have placed drones at the center of their plans to modernise their militaries.
The scale of Germany’s plans to order reconnaissance drones, interceptors and loitering munitions was confirmed by a person familiar with the matter who asked to not be identified because the plans are not public.
Germany is set to double its annual defense budget to as much as €162 billion ($188 billion) within four years. But the extra spending, which comes in response to Russia’s war in Ukraine and questions over the US commitment to European security, will largely go towards traditional military equipment that drones will supplement.