Defense Minister Announces Formation of First Drone Regiment

Reference News Network reported on October 4 According to Deutsche Presse-Agentur on October 1, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stated that the German military plans to establish its first drone regiment next year. Berlin is drawing on the practical experience from the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Pistorius stated at the Bergen military training base in northern Germany that this unit could have up to 600 personnel and be equipped with drones that have a combat radius of up to 500 kilometers.

Pistorius said, “To gain an advantage in land warfare, we must master the use of unmanned systems. We will establish the first drone regiment of the Bundeswehr by 2027.” This unit will be named the “Independent Unmanned Systems Force.”

Germany is accelerating the application of drones in the military field, partly because it has learned from the experience of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. In the Russia-Ukraine conflict, drone warfare played a key role in the Ukrainian military's fight against Russia.

Pistorius introduced that the goal of the newly established drone unit is to “integrate specialized technical forces.” The regiment will be equipped with aerial unmanned systems and ground unmanned equipment, and will include an “electromagnetic warfare company.” The unit will also be equipped with loitering munitions, a new type of suicide drone that can loiter for 70 minutes before crashing into a target once it is locked on. (Translated by Liu Zongya)