Germany Funds 50,000 Combat Drones for Ukraine in €90 Million Deal
Germany is financing the procurement of 50,000 Shrike FPV combat drones for Ukraine, worth approximately €90 million. Manufactured by Ukrainian company SkyFall and equipped with Auterion’s Skynode S software for autonomous target tracking, the drones enhance Ukraine’s precision strike capabilities amid electronic jamming. Deliveries have begun, with completion expected by 2026. The deal underscores Germany’s strategy of funding Ukraine’s domestic defense industry. Separately, a Ukrainian drone attack on Russian-controlled Enerhodar killed four people.
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Germany Funds €90 Million Contract for 50,000 Ukrainian-Made Strike Drones
Germany is reportedly funding a roughly €90 million contract for 50,000 Ukrainian-made Shrike FPV attack drones, equipped with terminal-autonomy software from US firm Auterion. The deal, first reported by Reuters and confirmed by Auterion CEO Lorenz Meier, involves drones manufactured by SkyFall, a German-Ukrainian joint venture. A portion of the fleet has already arrived in Ukraine, with the remainder scheduled for delivery by the end of 2026. The terminal-autonomy software allows drones to autonomously track and strike moving targets during final descent, reducing reliance on constant control links amid electronic jamming. Neither Berlin nor Kyiv has officially announced the deal, citing operational security. The procurement aligns with Germany's broader strategy of financing Ukraine's domestic defense industry rather than donating existing equipment. The contract represents less than one percent of Germany's planned €11.5 billion support budget for Ukraine in 2026.
Defence24.comGermany Funds €90 Million Contract for 50,000 Ukrainian-Made Strike Drones
Germany is reportedly funding a roughly €90 million contract for 50,000 Ukrainian-made Shrike FPV attack drones, equipped with terminal-autonomy software from US firm Auterion. The deal, first reported by Reuters and confirmed by Auterion CEO Lorenz Meier, was later attributed to Germany by drone manufacturer SkyFall. A portion of the drones has already arrived in Ukraine, with the remainder scheduled for delivery by the end of 2026. Neither Berlin nor Kyiv has officially announced the deal, citing operational security. The drones feature Auterion software capable of autonomously tracking and striking moving targets during final descent, reducing the need for a constant control link. The average cost per unit is roughly €1,800, though the package likely includes software, munitions, and logistics. This order aligns with Berlin's broader strategy of financing Ukraine's domestic defense industry, following a joint venture established in April to manufacture medium and long-range drones.
Defence24.comGermany Funds €90 Million Contract for 50,000 Ukrainian-Made Strike Drones
Germany is reportedly funding a roughly €90 million contract for 50,000 Ukrainian-made Shrike FPV attack drones, equipped with terminal-autonomy software from US firm Auterion. The drones, manufactured by SkyFall, are designed for autonomous tracking and striking of moving targets during final descent, reducing reliance on constant control links. A portion of the fleet has already arrived in Ukraine, with the remainder scheduled for delivery by the end of 2026. Neither Berlin nor Kyiv has officially announced the deal, citing operational security. The procurement aligns with Germany's broader strategy of financing Ukraine's domestic defense industry, following a joint venture established in April to manufacture medium and long-range drones. The contract accounts for less than one percent of Germany's planned €11.5 billion support budget for Ukraine in 2026.
Defence24.comAuterion and Skyfall Partner to Deliver 50,000 Shrike FPV Drones to Ukraine
Auterion and Skyfall have announced a partnership to deliver 50,000 Shrike FPV drones equipped with Auterion's Skynode S technology to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The delivery, funded by a European NATO nation, has begun and is expected to be completed in the coming months. The Shrike platform, described as a fault-tolerant combat drone, has already been used by Ukrainian forces to destroy enemy equipment worth several hundred million dollars, including a Mi-8 helicopter and TOS-1A flamethrower system. The Skynode S package provides precise terminal guidance control, enabling operations in electronically contested environments where GPS and radio signals are jammed. A future software update will add swarm capability without hardware changes. Company executives emphasized software as a key enabler for modern warfare and scaling precision capabilities.
CPM Defence Network – News: Verteidigung und WehrtechnikAuterion and Skyfall Partner to Deliver 50,000 Shrike Drones to Ukraine
Auterion and Skyfall have announced a partnership to deliver 50,000 Shrike FPV drones to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, funded by a European NATO nation. The drones integrate Auterion's Skynode S hardware and software, providing precise terminal guidance control even in electronically contested environments where GPS and radio signals are jammed. The Shrike platform has already been used by Ukrainian forces to destroy enemy equipment worth hundreds of millions of dollars, including a Mi-8 helicopter, TOS-1A flamethrower system, and electronic warfare systems. A future software update will enable swarm capability without hardware modifications. The partnership highlights the role of software in modern warfare, allowing scalable precision through upgrades rather than new hardware.
CPM Defence Network – News: Verteidigung und WehrtechnikAuterion and Skyfall Partner to Deliver 50,000 Shrike Drones to Ukraine
Auterion and Skyfall have announced a partnership to deliver 50,000 Skyfall Shrike FPV drones equipped with Auterion's Skynode S technology to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The delivery, funded by a European NATO nation, has begun and is expected to be completed in the coming months. The Shrike drone, already combat-proven in Ukraine, has destroyed enemy equipment worth hundreds of millions of dollars, including a Mi-8 helicopter and TOS-1A flamethrower system. The Skynode S package provides precise terminal guidance control, enabling operations in GPS- and radio-jammed environments. A future software update will add swarm capability without hardware changes. Executives from both companies emphasized the role of software in modern warfare and the scalability of precision through software updates.
CPM Defence Network – News: Verteidigung und WehrtechnikGermany Funds 50,000 Combat Drones for Ukraine in 90 Million Euro Deal
Germany has announced it is financing the procurement of 50,000 combat drones for Ukraine, in a deal worth approximately 90 million euros. The drones are described as being more precise than other models, with a payload capable of effectively destroying targets. The announcement was made by security policy expert Carlo Masala, who highlighted the destructive capability of the drones. The funding underscores Germany's continued military support for Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict. The order is expected to significantly enhance Ukraine's drone warfare capabilities.
Nachrichten - WELTGermany Finances 50,000 Combat Drones for Ukraine Worth 90 Million Euros
Germany is financing the procurement of 50,000 combat drones for Ukraine, one of the largest known drone purchases by a Western country for the nation. The order is worth approximately 90 million euros, as confirmed by Lorenz Meier, CEO of US defense software company Auterion. The drones, manufactured by Ukrainian company SkyFall, are equipped with Auterion software for automatic target tracking. SkyFall confirmed Germany's involvement but declined to provide further details. The German and Ukrainian defense ministries also declined to comment. Separately, according to Russian reports, four people were killed and four injured in a Ukrainian drone attack on the Russian-controlled city of Enerhodar, home to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. The city has been under Russian control since early 2022.
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