BERGEN, Germany — Germany’s armed forces, the Bundeswehr, will establish their first dedicated drone regiment in 2027 to strengthen the German Army’s unmanned capabilities. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced the plan on Thursday during the Experimentalserie Land military exercise at the Bergen training area in Lower Saxony.
Regiment to Operate Drones and Unmanned Ground Systems
The new regiment will combine reconnaissance, combat and counter-drone operations under a single command structure. It will operate unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and unmanned ground systems, covering missions from close-range operations to longer ranges of up to 500 kilometers.
The unit will also include a dedicated electronic warfare company. Plans indicate a structure of five or six companies covering close-range engagements, longer-range effects, electronic warfare, drone defence and testing.
Initial Strength of 300 Soldiers
Army Inspector Lieutenant General Christian Freuding said the regiment is expected to begin with approximately 300 soldiers by the end of 2027, with a planned expansion to around 600 personnel.
The regiment’s location has not yet been decided. The selection will depend on infrastructure suitable for extensive testing and flight operations.
The unit is expected to operate loitering munitions, also known as kamikaze drones. These systems are undergoing trials and are scheduled to enter service in 2027. Defense officials aim to finalize procurement decisions by spring 2027, with initial operational capability targeted for the end of the year.
Assignment to the 10th Armored Division
The regiment will be assigned to the divisional troops of Division 2025, the German Army’s 10th Armored Division. The division also includes the 45th Armored Brigade, which is scheduled to be permanently stationed in Lithuania to support NATO’s eastern flank. The brigade is expected to receive its own drone defence capabilities before deployment.
Pistorius said the regiment would complement, rather than replace, the integration of unmanned systems into existing Army formations. Conventional forces, including infantry and armored vehicles, will remain essential to land operations.
Drone Integration Across the Army
Work to integrate unmanned systems into light infantry, reconnaissance and armored forces is scheduled to begin around the turn of 2026 and 2027.
Germany is pursuing both a dedicated drone regiment and the integration of unmanned systems into existing units. Freuding said that if the centralized model proves successful within the 10th Armored Division, similar regiments could be established across other Army divisions.
Ukraine War Shapes Military Modernization
Pistorius identified the ongoing war in Ukraine as a major source of lessons for Germany’s military modernization. He highlighted autonomous systems, data sovereignty, battlefield networking and rapid innovation cycles as important areas for future military development.
Germany’s strategic cooperation with Ukraine provides opportunities to study battlefield experience, test new approaches and incorporate relevant findings into military development and procurement.
The announcement follows procurement contracts signed earlier in 2026 with defense technology companies Helsing, STARK and Rheinmetall for loitering munitions.
The Experimentalserie Land exercise tests new military systems with troops under conditions designed to approximate combat environments. Its results help shape military structures, tactics, operational requirements and future equipment procurement as Germany expands its use of unmanned technologies.
——— End of Article ———
