Germany launches 5,000-drone blitz force for Ukraine Mass production of more than 5,000 AI-guided combat drones for Ukraine has begun at a site near Munich, opening a new chapter in Germany’s push to arm Kyiv with large-scale precision weapons. US-German defence company Auterion said the first systems are being assembled under a German government order due to be completed by mid-2027. The deal is estimated by industry sources to be worth around €300 million. Munich factory starts feeding Kyiv’s drone arsenal The production line will build medium- and long-range drones, with a second facility planned in eastern Germany. One model will have a range of up to 1,500 kilometres, giving Kyiv a potentially significant long-range strike capability. The programme is being delivered by Auterion and Ukrainian joint-venture partner Airlogix, which was established only in February. Further orders and a long-term contract are expected under the partnership. AI designed to beat Russian jamming Auterion is providing the operating system and autonomous software, while Airlogix supplies the hardware. The drones use AI-guided systems designed to keep them on course and hit targets even when subjected to enemy electronic countermeasures. The weapons are designed as one-way attack drones, carrying substantial explosive payloads towards enemy targets rather than returning to base. Berlin bets on mass production Auterion chief executive Lorenz Meier said Germany now had a production line capable of producing affordable precision weapons in large quantities, with systems due to be delivered before the end of this year. Airlogix chief executive Vitaly Kolesnichenko said the partnership combined Ukrainian battlefield experience, autonomous software and German industrial capacity. The expansion underscores Germany’s continuing military support for Ukraine as the war enters another phase — while Kyiv increasingly seeks the ability to produce and deploy long-range weapons at scale. Bavarian site starts production of 5,000 AI-guided drones for Kiev
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