LONDON – Germany is funding 50 000 attack drones for Ukraine, a source familiar with the matter said, in an order that marks one of the biggest known purchases of drones for Kyiv by a Western government.
Ukraine has relied heavily on a range of unmanned vehicles during the more than four-year-old war against Russia and it is producing millions of drones annually as Ukrainian forces conduct thousands of drone strikes each day.
The attack drone order involves Shrike first-person-view (FPV) drones made by major Ukrainian manufacturer SkyFall and equipped with software from US defence technology firm Auterion designed to autonomously track and hit moving targets in the final phase of the flight.
Auterion CEO Lorenz Meier confirmed the size of the contract, adding that it was worth about €90 million (R1.7 billion) and was funded by a European country. Meier said some of the drones had been delivered to Ukraine’s government with the rest due for dispatch this year.
SkyFall confirmed Germany’s involvement but said the company could not comment on the details of the purchase.
Germany’s Defence Ministry declined to comment, citing operational security.
Ukraine’s Defence Ministry also declined to comment.
Shrike catches Pentagon’s eye
The Shrike, a low-cost drone that has been deployed in Ukraine since 2023, recently gained prominence overseas.
A version called Shrike 10-F produced by SkyFall with UK company Skycutter recently topped the leaderboard in the first round of a Pentagon-run competition as part of a $1.1bn initiative to buy hundreds of thousands of one-way attack drones. Auterion said its software was being used in several entries in the competition.
Meier said Auterion was helping to supply 100 000 drones for Ukraine this year in partnership with hardware makers, funded by several Western governments.
That also includes a $50m Pentagon contract to provide 33 000 drones, which he said have been delivered to Ukraine.
Last month, Britain said it would provide 150 000 drones to Ukraine this year as part of a broader £752m funding package.
- Germany is funding the purchase of 50,000 Shrike attack drones for Ukraine, marking one of the largest drone orders by a Western government for Kyiv.
- The Shrike drones, produced by Ukrainian company SkyFall and equipped with US firm Auterion’s autonomous targeting software, are designed to track and hit moving targets.
- The €90 million contract has already seen some drones delivered, with the remainder due this year; both Germany and Ukraine’s Defence Ministries declined to comment on specifics.
- The Shrike drone gained international attention after a version topped a Pentagon competition aiming to procure hundreds of thousands of one-way attack drones.
- Auterion is supporting a broader effort to supply 100,000 drones to Ukraine this year with funding from multiple Western countries, including a $50 million Pentagon contract for 33,000 drones; the UK also pledged 150,000 drones as part of a £752 million aid package.
