German funds for combat aircraft in Ukraine – DW – 08/03/2025

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Residential buildings in fire and withdrawal from smoke on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv: Almost every day, Russia is attacking the country with Done aircraft And missiles. In response, Ukraine defends itself, including amazing goals Russia. It is quite possible that in long distance attacks, drones that are produced with German money are used.

“This is the beginning of a new form of military industrial cooperation between our countries, which have great potential,” the German advisor Friedrich Mirz He said in late May when the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy He visited Berlin.

Defense ministries between the two countries signed an agreement at that time: Germany funds long -term weapons, but will be produced in Ukraine. Two months later, there were no many details about the arrangement. “The operation is continuing,” said Metco Muller, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense in Germany.

Russian missiles and drones hit multiple sites in Kyiv

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In June 2024, Denmark became the first member state of NATO to be involved in the Ukrainian arms industry.

German weapons manufacturers are represented in Ukraine, with Rheinmetall, a weapon -based weapon manufacturer in Dusseldorf, most often the most obvious. The industrial giant expands its presence there and participates in a number of joint projects. For example, the tanks are manufactured and fixed there and an ammunition plant.

“Great change” in German positions

“We are witnessing a major change in Germany’s approach to Ukraine, full opening”, “Ihor Fedirko, CEO of the Ukrainian defense industry (UCDI = Tell DW.

Direct investments by the German government in the production of Ukrainian drones and the production of missiles are still relative. according to the worldA German newspapers, Germany intends to finance about 500 Liusei An-196 aircraft, one-way attack, and drone. Ukrainian media reports indicate that each drone costs about $ 200,000 (175,000 euros).

The drone was developed as a result of the previous cooperation between Türkiye and Ukraine. Military expert Gustav Gracel, who was previously a senior colleague of the European Council for Foreign Relations, explained that military expert Gustav Gracel, who was previously working as a senior colleague of the European Council for Foreign Relations.

Gustav Gressel, a Berlin expert in defense and security.
GUSTAV Gressel, an expert based in Berlin in defense and securityPhoto: dw

Regardless of the moneyUkraine also hopes for German know -how. “We lack deep technology technology,” Federco explains, referring to advanced engineering. “This affects the base of the ingredients. Equipped with this type of knowledge, we can update more comprehensively and become more efficient,” he said. Germany has these technologies.

Currently, Ukraine is asking all its allies for technology that will enable long -range weapons, and Federco continued.

“We are talking about a group ranging from 500 and 1000 km,” explains. “Some of them (weapons)-for example, deep Litusi can reach the targets of more than 2000 km.”

The production of German aircraft in Ukraine

Many German defense companies that are increasingly active in Ukraine are startups, most of which are based in Bavaria. One example is quantum systems, a company specialized in air data and manufacture of abnormal air systems to collect.

Fedirko describes this as a “better scenario” for the type of collaboration that Ukraine wants.

Quantum Systems was established in 2015, and the drones are provided for reconnaissance to the Ukrainian army since 2022. It is a special feature in the vector is its ability to take off and land vertically.

“We are the only western company that produces a reconnaissance drone where it is needed urgently: on the site in Ukraine,” says Sven Crook, CEO of Quantum Systems. His company employs about 200 people in Ukraine, and it grows; The second production factory is scheduled to open in September.

In mid -July, Quantum Systems announced that it will also get a 10 % stake in Frontline, a Ukrainian drone manufacturer. It will have the option to increase that share to 25 % during the next year.

Ukrainian soldiers with drone vector quantum system.
Ukrainian soldiers with drone vector quantum systemPhoto: Quantum systems

“Frontline specializes in technical solutions for reconnaissance and strike operations. Its systems are currently used by 41 military units in Ukraine,” Crook explained. “We see the possibility of cooperation, especially in developing the defense of drones.” However, he added that his company does not plan to enter drones.

Martial aircraft are made by another German company, Helsing. The Bavarian company has already delivered thousands of drones to Ukraine, and last February, it announced a new contract for more than 6000 HX-2 drones. According to the online post defense industry, the HX-2 is “X-Wing’s ammunition driven electricly with a range of up to 100 km.”

Its use of advanced computing makes it more resistant to electronic warfare. Heling did not respond to DW inquiries asking for more details.

However, as much as the Ukrainians may be happy German financing And drone investments, the demand still exceeds the supply.

Ukraine is a land test

Grisiel argues that Ukraine needs a large quality supply. These can only produce cost within Ukraine itself.

The same argument applies to missiles, such as Taurus rocketsThe German weapons are not currently wanting to provide it. However, Gressel suggests that cooperation with German companies may enable some parts. This can increase the scope of the Neptune Cruise missiles in Ukraine, with more power engines in energy can fly more on the same amount of fuel and the most accurate sensors, which will help the wild targeting. However, a decision has no such supplies.

Heling HX-2 in the trip.
German company Helsing Making HX-2 FightingPhoto: Photo Alliance/DPA/Helsing

Germany is not only more willing to invest in Ukraine, but also to exchange knowledge. At the beginning of the war, there were fears that modern German technology could fall into the hands of Russian and doubt about the reliability of Ukrainian military personnel, Gracel explained. This is one of the reasons why Ukraine initially received old weapons.

But this is a change. This is partly due to the fact that Ukraine It now produces modern weapons Its themselves can compete with other manufacturers.

“German companies are learning things here that you cannot simulate at the time of peace,” Gracel notes. For example, the fighting area in Ukraine is completely full of confusion, jamming devices and air defense systems, a kind of things that you will never get anywhere, not on NATO training land, in simulations in Germany, nor in the United States.

Grisiel says the defense industry is aware of this.

Kruck can confirm Quantum systems. He told DW: “The development of drones is a cat and mouse game.” “Only those on the site can adapt to all continuous changes. Our vision from Ukraine flows directly to the development of our products, which we offer to all our customers around the world.”

He believes that the work of his company in Ukraine is a “major project” and wants to encourage others to simulate this.

Fedirko in UCDI would like to see this type of cooperation go further. “Germany is a country with a model European bureaucracy,” recognizes. “So it takes time to get things up. But when the Germans say they are doing something, we Ukrainians know that this will be done.”

This story was originally published in German.

Ukraine seeks a foreign investment for the arms industry

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