Helsing, Stark, and Rheinmetall to Supply Kamikaze Drones for German Brigade in Lithuania
Germany is set to award contracts for kamikaze drones to defense start-ups Helsing and Stark, as well as to Rheinmetall, the nation’s largest contractor, in an effort to strengthen its defenses against Russia and foster competition within the defense sector. Each company will receive close to €300 million from the contract. While formal agreements remain pending, approval by the German parliament’s budget committee would make these among the most significant deals secured by the two emerging start-ups.
Under the proposed agreement, the companies are expected to supply up to 12,000 drones, although initial deliveries will cover only a portion of that total. The drones will be deployed to a new German brigade stationed in Lithuania, supporting the defense of NATO’s eastern border against Russian threats.
This initiative aligns with broader efforts across Europe to expand capabilities in drone warfare, encompassing both defensive measures against hostile drones and offensive technologies for strategic operations. Since Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine, investment in European defense technology start-ups has accelerated markedly, attracting substantial interest from venture capital firms.
Helsing, backed by Spotify founder Daniel Ek, is currently valued at €12 billion, making it Europe’s leading defense start-up. Over the past year, Helsing has committed to supplying 6,000 strike drones to Ukraine, acquired German aircraft manufacturer Grob, and announced plans to develop underwater surveillance systems in the UK. Helsing will contribute its HX-2 model drone to the joint effort.
Stark, established just 15 months ago, counts investors such as US tech entrepreneur Peter Thiel and Sequoia Capital among its supporters. The company maintains a team dedicated to testing and development in Ukraine, and recently disclosed plans to open a manufacturing facility in Swindon, England. Stark will supply its Virtus armed drone.
Despite partnerships with US-based Anduril and Israel’s UVision, Rheinmetall has only recently developed its own armed drone. Headquartered in Düsseldorf, Rheinmetall, which holds extensive government contracts in tanks and artillery, has offered the FV-014, also known as Raider, as its solution for the German military. The FV-014 can carry a 5kg payload and boasts a range of 100km.
