Germany begins production of 5,000 long-range drones for Kyiv, media reports
The joint venture was established between the German-American defense company Auterion and the Ukrainian drone producer Airlogix in February 2026 at the Munich Security Conference.
Germany has officially commenced production of more than 5,000 medium- and long-range drones for Ukraine, according to a report by Handelsblatt on September 3. The €300 million ($349 million) joint venture between German-American defense company Auterion and Ukrainian drone producer Airlogix is set to conclude by mid-2027. Auterion will manage the drones' software and operating systems, while Airlogix will manufacture the physical components.
The drones will incorporate AI systems to counter electronic disruption attempts by Russian defenses.
Auterion CEO Lorenz Meier stated that Germany now possesses a production line for cost-effective precision weapons in large quantities. Two drone models will be produced: one for medium-range flights and another with up to 1,500 kilometers (932 miles) of range. This partnership combines Auterion's battle-tested missiles, Airlogix's autonomous software, and Germany's industrial capabilities.
Germany has become a prominent aid provider to Kyiv and a key partner in Ukraine's expanding defense tech industry over the past year. In May, Berlin and Kyiv launched "Brave Germany," a joint initiative to promote defense technologies and support innovative startups. The Airlogix-Auterion announcement follows Ukraine's increasing use of long-range drones to target Russian military and energy infrastructure beyond the front lines.
President Volodymyr Zelensky called for a significant increase in long-range drone strikes against Russia, aiming for 1,000 strikes per day. In response, Moscow airports have begun canceling flights.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Independent's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
