Rheinmetall has secured a significant Bundeswehr contract to provide the FV-014 autonomous reconnaissance and strike drone, strengthening Germany’s growing investment in loitering munitions. Worth around 300 million euros, the framework deal schedules first deliveries for early 2027 following qualification in 2026. It also contains an option for procurement in five-figure quantities, suggesting long-term expansion if the system performs as expected. The FV-014 is a dual-role loitering munition able to conduct surveillance before carrying out precision attacks. It can fly up to 100 kilometers and stay airborne for around 70 minutes while searching for targets. The platform carries a 4-kilogram warhead able to penetrate heavy armor up to 600 millimeters of rolled homogeneous steel. Electric propulsion reduces noise and thermal signature, improving stealth during final approach. Operators maintain control through a secure data link that supports target confirmation, tracking, or mission cancellation. The drone is engineered to function in GPS-denied and electronically contested environments, an increasingly important requirement in modern warfare. It can also be used in swarms to saturate defenses or strike several objectives at once. Compatible launch platforms include land vehicles and naval vessels, with intended targets such as armored formations, artillery batteries, and command centers. The contract marks a major step in Germany’s modernization of precision strike capabilities.
