Focus: Germany steps up drone use, creates its first military drone regiment

BERGEN, October 1 /ATSH-DPA/ – Germany will create its first special military unit for the use of drones in 2027, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius announced today.

The unit will have up to 600 troops, and the drones will be able to operate at distances of up to 500 kilometres.

“To have the upper hand in ground combat, we must master the use of drones and other unmanned equipment,” Pistorius said.

The minister said Germany is creating the unit also on the basis of lessons learned from the war in Ukraine, where drones are widely used for surveillance, reconnaissance and attacks.

The head of the German army, Christian Freuding, said in June that Germany must use more drones and unmanned military equipment as soon as possible.