German Media: Sources: Germany Funding Ukraine’s Purchase of 500,000 Attack Drones
According to informed sources cited by Reuters, Germany is funding Ukraine’s acquisition of 500,000 attack drones. This marks one of the largest orders for drones purchased on behalf of Kyiv by Western government agencies to date.
In the ongoing war with Russia that has lasted over four years, Ukraine has become highly reliant on various types of drones. With Ukrainian forces launching thousands of drone strikes daily, the country's annual drone production has reached several million units.
The order for attack drones involves the "Shrike" first-person view (FPV) drones produced by Ukraine’s major manufacturer SkyFall. These drones are equipped with software developed by U.S. defense technology company Auterion, designed to enable autonomous target tracking and engagement during the final phase of flight.
Lorenz Meier, CEO of Auterion, confirmed the scale of the contract and added that the order is valued at approximately €90 million, funded by a European country. Meier told Reuters that some of the drones have already been delivered to the Ukrainian government, with the remainder scheduled for delivery this year.
SkyFall confirmed Germany’s involvement but stated it could not comment on procurement details.
The German Ministry of Defense declined to comment, citing operational security.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense also refused to comment.
The "Shrike" is a low-cost drone that has been in use in Ukraine since 2023 and has recently drawn significant attention overseas.
Auterion CEO Meier said that Auterion is collaborating with multiple hardware manufacturers, supported by several Western governments, to help supply a total of 100,000 drones to Ukraine this year.
This includes a $50 million contract awarded by the Pentagon, covering the provision of 33,000 drones. Meier confirmed that these drones have already been delivered to Ukraine.
Last month, the UK announced it would provide 150,000 drones to Ukraine this year under a broader aid package worth £752 million.
Source: DW
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1870552625130496/
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