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Germany Goes All-In on Strike Drones—Artillery Units to Hit Targets 300km Away
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![Photo of Vlad Litnarovych]( "Photo of Vlad Litnarovych")
Germany is moving to integrate long-range strike drones into its artillery forces, aiming to give its army the ability to hit targets as far as 300 kilometers away, according to remarks by Lieutenant General Heico Hübner reported by Hartpunkt on April 14.
Speaking in Berlin, Hübner emphasized that modern maneuver warfare depends on effective indirect fire, describing it as a foundational capability rather than a supporting element.
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He outlined a sweeping modernization effort that spans everything from short-range systems at the battalion level to deep-strike capabilities at the corps level.
Under the plan, every artillery battalion at the brigade and division level will receive a dedicated loitering munition battery tailored to its operational range.
❗️The 🇩🇪German company Stark Defence is testing the Virtus vertical take-off and landing attack drone in combat conditions in 🇺🇦Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/UTG7CjNfGV
— 🪖MilitaryNewsUA🇺🇦 (@front_ukrainian) July 18, 2025
The rollout is already underway. The first unit is being formed within Panzerbrigade 45, with another to follow in Panzerbrigade 21, a formation largely built around light infantry rather than armored forces.
The battery assigned to Panzerbrigade 21 will also serve as a testing ground, allowing the German Army to refine tactics and evaluate performance under realistic conditions. Systems for these initial units have already been contracted, with Helsing, Rheinmetall, and STARK among the suppliers.
At the same time, Berlin is preparing a separate procurement program aimed at equipping corps-level artillery formations with significantly longer-range strike drones.
These systems are expected to operate at distances between 200 and 300 kilometers, placing them firmly in the category of deep-strike capabilities designed to hit high-value targets far behind enemy lines.
At the lower tactical level, the army plans to field compact, short-range loitering munitions integrated directly into combat units. According to Hübner, this capability should be fully implemented by 2027, underscoring the urgency behind the effort.
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Loitering munitions are aerial systems that can remain over a target area for extended periods before striking on command.
Experience of the Ukrainian Army during the Russian invasion of Ukraine showed that, unlike conventional artillery shells or rockets, they can be redirected in flight, offering commanders greater flexibility and precision.
At extended ranges, such systems allow forces to engage logistics hubs, command centers, and air defense assets without relying on aircraft or expending large stocks of guided munitions.
Earlier, Ukraine and Germany signed a memorandum on battlefield data exchange that will give Berlin access to Ukrainian battlefield experience and combat data to support defense technology development.
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