The purchase of missiles for the future Bundeswehr drone Heron TP has been a long struggle. In the grand coalition, the SPD opposed it. Now the project is going silently across the political stage.
The Bundestag has given the green light for equipping the Bundeswehr with armed drones. After the defense committee, the budget committee also approved the project on Wednesday, the defense ministry said.
The plan to use the new Heron TP drone not only as a reconnaissance system, but also with missiles, was politically controversial for years.
She was “more than happy, because it is a decision to protect the soldiers,” said the chair of the defense committee, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann (FDP). “A drone clears things up. However, the one who leads it must also be able to use it to protect the troops on the ground. Arming drones is essential for this, and an armed drone is particularly good at that.”
Armed only with Israeli ammunition
The Ministry of Defense intends to fully arm the Israeli-made drones, including training and procurement of ammunition. “The order volume amounts to a total of around 152.61 million euros,” the ministry had informed the defense politicians in a letter. The armament can only be carried out with the “Special Payload” ammunition developed in Israel, the procurement and export of which must be approved by the Israeli government.
According to this information, the procurement of 140 missiles – 60 for training and 80 for use – is planned. This includes additional equipment and support for tactical weapons training, including the provision of infrastructure, conversion kits and simulators. After the approval of the budget committee, which is always involved in investments with a volume of more than 25 million euros, the conditions for the implementation of armed surveillance and protection missions can now be created, the ministry said.
Criticism came from the left chairwoman Janine Wissler. “Armament seems to be the central project of the traffic light government,” said Wissler. Unfortunately, the SPD has given up resistance to armed drones. “The armament of the drones does not serve to protect life, but has the purpose of killing pre-programmed.”
Source: Stern
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