ALWAGHT- Germany will supply Ukraine with 4,000 AI-powered kamikaze drones, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced. Nicknamed ‘mini-Taurus’ after Berlin’s long-range cruise missiles, the drones are said to be resistant to jamming and other countermeasures.
Speaking in Schrobenhausen, Bavaria, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stated that the new drones can "neutralize the enemy’s electronic drone defenses" and "fly around them," as quoted by Die Welt. Capable of reaching targets 30 to 40 kilometers behind enemy lines, the drones can strike command posts, logistical hubs, and other critical targets, which Pistorius described as “an important additional asset” for Ukraine’s forces.
According to Bild, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense signed a contract in September with software company Helsing for the HX-2 Karma drones, with funding provided by Germany’s federal government. Pistorius had previously announced plans in June to supply Ukraine with thousands of combat drones but did not share further details at the time.
Nicknamed the ‘mini-Taurus,’ the HX-2 Karma drone boasts a range up to four times greater than conventional kamikaze drones used by Ukraine. It is also designed to maintain its course toward a target even if the radio connection is disrupted, significantly increasing its accuracy compared to manually-controlled drones. Deliveries are set to begin in December, with hundreds of units arriving monthly.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has repeatedly requested Germany’s Taurus long-range cruise missiles, but Chancellor Olaf Scholz has refused, citing concerns that providing them would directly involve Germany in the conflict. Asked about the possibility of reversing this decision after reports that the US may allow Ukraine to conduct long-range strikes into Russian territory, Pistorius said the assessment remains unchanged, asserting that such missiles would not be a "game changer" for Ukraine.
