Together with the Ukrainian manufacturer, the German company Helsing, dealing with artificial intelligence, has developed a model of the so-called a kamikaze drone that is supposed to autonomously attack its targets.
The government in Kiev will currently receive 4,000 of them dronecombat vehicles – equipped with artificial intelligence developed in Germany. Both sides are keeping technical details and the exact location of production secret for security reasons. Drone photos have not been published yet.
“Breaking Electronic Defense”
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) revealed only some general information about the new drone. – These are drones that can reach up to 30-40 kilometers behind enemy lines, can attack command posts, logistic nodes and more – explained the politician. Pistorius added that the drone is able to “break through the enemy's electronic defense and reach the target without any obstacles.”
Most drones in use today are radio-controlled, and some are also video-controlled GPS. Using jammers, you can disrupt the flight trajectory and cause the device to crash. Drones that can defeat enemy electronic defenses therefore represent a major strategic advantage.
“Little Tauruses”
The head of the German Ministry of Defense added that a few months ago saw a drone prototype in Ukraine. He is convinced that these drones are a “really important asset” for Ukraine. So far, Germany has only provided reconnaissance drones to Ukraine as part of its military assistance. Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has consistently refused to provide Ukraine with Taurus-type cruise missiles that could be used to attack targets deep inside Russian territory. However, the new drones have already been dubbed “little Tauruses” by the German press.
Drones instead of artillery
Drones are ubiquitous on the battlefield in Ukraine. Both Russians and Ukrainians use hundreds of thousands of these devices. Russia has repeatedly attacked civilian targets and infrastructure in Ukraine with drones. The Ukrainian armed forces are also using drones as a replacement for missing artillery pieces and ammunition. They make do with cheap remotely controlled drones, which they equip with explosives and use against Russian positions.
Artificial intelligence for military purposes
Helsing is a Munich-based company that specializes in developing AI applications for the defense sector. Since its founding in 2021, the company has won a number of contracts in the defense industry. Helsing is working, among other things, on an electronic warfare system for the German Eurofighter and on the AI infrastructure for the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), a future fighter.
The article originally appeared on the website DW Deutsch
Authors: Nina Werkhäuser Berlin, Bartosz Dudek version Poland