SCHROBENHAUSEN (dpa-AFX) – The defense companies TDW and Stark Defense have successfully tested warheads for the kamikaze drone Virtus. This will create the basis for providing thousands of systems with integrated warhead and ignition systems by 2027, the companies announced after the test at an explosion site in Schrobenhausen, Bavaria.
The drone weapon from Stark Defense, known as “Loitering Munition”, is currently undergoing tests by the Bundeswehr, which wants to introduce the new weapon systems into the troops if possible as early as next year. Helsing and Rheinmetall are also among the three bidders.
“Loitering munitions” are drones with a warhead that can circle over a target area for a long time until a target is assigned to them via data link and the attack command is given.
“We are now arming ourselves at the TDW so that we can think of tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of these standardized loitering ammunition warheads – and then deliver them,” said Andreas Seitz, managing director of the TDW, to the German Press Agency. The company belongs to the defense group MDBA, which specializes in air defense, guided missiles and laser technology./cn/DP/zb