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Stark Defence to deliver kamikaze drones to Bundeswehr
Stark Defence, a Berlin-based defense company founded in 2024, is preparing to begin deliveries of its Virtus kamikaze drones to the German Bundeswehr. The company has secured a framework agreement worth 2.9 billion euros, with the German Bundestag having already approved one billion euros of that total.
The first batch of drones is valued at 275 million euros. These Virtus loitering munitions weigh up to 33 kilograms and are capable of flying for 75 minutes with a range of 130 kilometers. The drones are designed to strike targets and explode, or crash safely if no target is identified.
Stark Defence operates production sites in the United Kingdom, Sweden, and Greece, and maintains two secret facilities near Kyiv, Ukraine. The company currently employs 750 people. Other major defense contractors, including Rheinmetall and Helsing, have also received multi-billion euro contracts for similar technologies.
Entities
Bundeswehr · German Bundestag · Helsing · Josef Kranawetvogl · Rheinmetall · STARK Defence · Virtus
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 12 SOURCES] Stark Defence holds a framework agreement worth 2.9 billion euros. supertipp-online.de · www.kurierverlag.de · www.leinetal24.de · courage-lounge.de · www.fehmarn24.de · +7 more
- [● 12 SOURCES] Stark Defence plans to begin the first delivery of kamikaze drones to the German Bundeswehr soon. supertipp-online.de · www.kurierverlag.de · www.leinetal24.de · courage-lounge.de · www.fehmarn24.de · +7 more
- [● 12 SOURCES] The Virtus drone can fly for up to 75 minutes and reach distances of 130 kilometers. supertipp-online.de · www.kurierverlag.de · www.leinetal24.de · courage-lounge.de · www.fehmarn24.de · +7 more
- [● 12 SOURCES] Stark Defence was founded as a start-up in 2024. supertipp-online.de · www.kurierverlag.de · www.leinetal24.de · courage-lounge.de · www.fehmarn24.de · +7 more
- [● 12 SOURCES] The upcoming batch of drones is valued at 275 million euros. supertipp-online.de · www.kurierverlag.de · www.leinetal24.de · courage-lounge.de · www.fehmarn24.de · +7 more
- [● 12 SOURCES] The German Bundestag has approved one billion euros of the total contract amount. supertipp-online.de · www.kurierverlag.de · www.leinetal24.de · courage-lounge.de · www.fehmarn24.de · +7 more