German parliament backs purchase of drones for military

The German parliament's budgetary committee has approved an initial €540 million ($640 million) for the purchase of kamikaze drones from German manufacturers Helsing and Stark Defence, dpa learnt on Wednesday.

The committee also set a limit of €1 billion and instructed the Defence Ministry to report back on the purchases before parliament grants approval for further purchases.

Defence Minister Boris Pistorius termed the decision an "important step." The German army was profiting from Ukrainian experience and cooperation on arms, he said. So-called "loitering munitions" have become crucial in Ukraine.

But Pistorius also noted that while drones were dominant at the moment, no on know whether this would be the case in the future. Germany's Lithuania Brigade will be the first to be equipped with the drones.

The Defence Ministry plans to spend up to €4.4 billion on kamikaze drones over the coming years, with several thousand ordered in the first tranche. Rheinmetall is a third possible provider.

The army has tested the systems, setting its own requirements, so that Germany will receive version different to those used in Ukraine.

Army chief Christian Freuding aims to set up six units for the kamikaze drones, with the first battery of medium-range drones ready by next year, with five more following by 2029.

During the debate in the budgetary committee objections were heard to the involvement of US investor Peter Thiel in Stark Defence.

Opposition politicians queried what influence Thiel, who is known for libertarian and right-wing views and for his closeness to US President Donald Trump, would have on the company.