Overview
- Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced Thursday that the Bundeswehr will stand up its first Drohnenregiment in 2027 with up to 600 personnel to concentrate unmanned-systems skills and command.
- The regiment is planned to operate both aerial and unmanned ground systems with ranges up to 500 kilometres and will include a dedicated electronic-warfare company.
- Pistorius confirmed the unit will be equipped with loitering munitions that are now in Bundeswehr trials and are expected to arrive with troops next year.
- Press reporting indicates the new formation is expected to be subordinated to the 10th Panzerdivision so drone units can operate alongside tank brigades on NATO’s eastern flank.
- Ongoing experimental series at the Bergen training area are testing more than 40 systems and their IT and command integration, a step meant to speed procurement and change how troops use unmanned systems on the battlefield.