Germany orders loitering munitions from Stark and Helsing

The German Armed Forces have signed two contracts to purchase loitering munitions from Helsing and Stark, a Ministry of Defence spokesperson confirmed in response to an inquiry from hartpunkt on the 10th April. The munitions have been ordered for comprehensive, extended testing and trials within the German armed forces, the spokesperson added. 

“It is not just a small number of units that are being procured, but a large number of loitering munitions from two manufacturers, so that comprehensive tests and trials can be carried out within the troops over an extended period,” the spokesperson said. However, he declined to provide any details about the two manufacturers or the systems being procured. 

Hartpunkt has previously reported, citing several well-informed sources, that the two manufacturers were the German start-ups Helsing and STARK. Reportedly, these are the HX-2 (left in the photo above) and OWE-V (right in the photo) systems. The companies declined to comment on the matter when contacted.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence explained that the quantities are sufficient that the munitions can be widely adopted by German units throughout the testing phase, during a government press conference on the 4th April. “The munitions will be integrated and tested, and then conclusions will be drawn from this, specifically conclusions based on the following questions: Can the systems do what we need? How can they be integrated? What else needs to be considered in the design phase?” the spokesperson explained. He also pointed out that following the soldier testing, decisions will be made on the extent to which the tested loitering munitions will be introduced on a wider scale, “and perhaps other systems and additions.”

Furthermore, the MoD is pursuing close cooperation with Ukraine regarding the use of loitering munitions. “Of course, we also have our management and leadership staff, who often conduct on-site visits where the issues are discussed. Information is exchanged at the working level. Naturally, we benefit from the results and experiences gained there. The industrial companies that deploy systems there also benefit from feedback on what is being used and how, how successful it is, which jamming measures may have been successful, etc.,” the MoD spokesperson explained. 

He also referred to tests at the “drone testing centre in Manching, where very intensive work is being done on solutions in this field [drones in all dimensions] – and this applies not only to the two contracts just concluded.” According to the spokesperson, all of this experience gained from trials and tests will be incorporated into the eventual procurement process.

His remarks also demonstrate that “unit needs” and “security” are guiding factors in the selection of manufacturers and the drones and loitering munitions to be procured. “Procurement essentially revolves around two major issues: First, the question of what the system should be able to do, what the troops need for the core mission of national and alliance defence, and second, security. Security affects everything. It concerns the safety of the personnel deployed, the safety of the population, collateral security, everything that goes with it, and also data and information security. All of this is taken into account,” said the MoD spokesperson.

If you would like to learn more about loitering munitions, sign up to the Calibre Defence newsletter on the website homepage, the next issue will focus on Lancet-3, the Russian loitering munition that is shaping the war in Ukraine. 

This article, written by Waldemar Geiger, was originally published in German by hartpunkt on the 10thApril. Calibre and hartpunkt are collaborating to bring you the best defence content from across Europe.