European Sovereignty Monitor

Defence and space

Germany approves EUR 540 million drone contracts for Helsing and Stark Defence

Germany's Bundestag budget committee approved an initial EUR 540 million framework (EUR 269 million each) for Helsing's HX-2 and Stark Defence's Virtus loitering munitions, capped at EUR 1 billion per firm, to equip the 45th Brigade in Lithuania.

Reported STARK Defence press release, 26 February 2026

What it does not test. Does not confirm any drones have been delivered, nor that the EUR 1 billion per-firm ceiling will be reached without further parliamentary approval.

How this item counts. No movement: no answer to who owns, who operates, whose law governs or who made the parts changes. Weight 0. Germany orders existing German-made loitering munitions; already-sovereign supply chain. European Sovereignty Index

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