11/19/2024
In recent days, the Ukrainian media space has been discussing the alleged transfer by Germany to Ukraine of 4,000 drones manufactured by the German company Helsing, based on the submission of Julian Röpke, a journalist of the German edition of BILD. Röpke claims that these drones are almost an analogue of the German Taurus cruise missiles, although in a “miniature version”.
In fact, there is little information about these UAVs, and even about their names in open sources. Experts told Defense Express what is known about drones that can strengthen the Ukrainian army .
First of all, the military portal emphasized that Ryopke’s competence raises certain doubts in professional circles, and the Office of the President of Ukraine several times equated some of his statements with Russian propaganda. So his statements that Germany is allegedly handing over 4,000 “mini-Taurus” in the form of drones instead of Taurus cruise missiles should not be taken for granted.
In addition, Defense Express suggests, it may not be about the transfer of drones, but about the effective cooperation of Ukraine with the German manufacturer Helsing in the production of cheap means of destruction in the front-line zone.
Helsing drones: what is known about them
Little is known about the mysterious German drones. Open sources do not even mention the name of the UAV, only the manufacturing company, already mentioned Helsing, is indicated.
At the same time, they are distinguished by developed “artificial intelligence”, which provides opportunities for autonomous destruction of targets and ignoring EW, have a range four times greater than Ukrainian kamikaze drones, and in addition, they are even cheaper than the American Switchblade or the Russian “Lancet”.
“The latter directly indicates that the drone itself is a barrage munition for hitting targets at a range of 40-60 km. Which is also about four times more than Ukrainian FPV-kamikaze drones. Already on the basis of this, it is possible to immediately understand that no We are not talking about “mini-Taurus” or at least a part of the capabilities of the Taurus in these drones. Because the task of this German cruise missile is to destroy highly protected objects with the help of a 480-kg warhead at a range of more than 500 km,” the statement was denied. Ryopke at Defense Express.
At the same time, experts emphasized: even if it is possible to cover 500+ km, a drone, unlike a missile, will not be able to cause the same damage, because it has a much smaller warhead, which does not exceed several tens of kilograms. All the more so when it comes to Helsing, which, judging by the available information, is a kind of modification of kamikaze drones with a warhead of several kilograms, which is enough to defeat armored vehicles, but not enough to destroy more serious military targets.
This, Defense Express adds, is evidenced by alleged photos of the mentioned drones.
“And so we are talking about the Switchblade counterpart, which, as indicated, will be supplied in the number of several hundred per month until the contract of 4,000 units is fully fulfilled. If we are talking about an annual contract, then it is about 333 drones per month. And although, about objectively, this drone from Helsing can be an excellent means of defeat of Russian targets in the front and near-front zone, but this is in no way analogous to a cruise missile,” Defense Express warned Ukrainians against inflated expectations.
At the same time, experts expressed doubts that the mentioned drones are manufactured in Germany. After all, the Helsing company is engaged, according to public information, only in the development of combat artificial intelligence. In particular, she is a co-developer of AI for the sixth-generation FCAS fighter.
At the same time, on February 24, 2024, it was reported that the Ministry of Strategic Industries signed a memorandum of understanding with the Helsing concern. The document discussed “the introduction of artificial intelligence technologies into drones, in particular UAVs, of Ukrainian production.”
So it is not excluded, Defense Express summarized, that the drones called “mini-Taurus” by the BILD journalist are the result of a combination of German software technologies with the production of drones in Ukraine. Which, in the end, could create the prerequisites for the production of barrage ammunition, which will be cheaper than the American Switchblade or the Russian “Lancet”.
It will be recalled that on November 18, the Bild publication reported that Germany will soon begin the transfer of the latest Helsing kamikaze drones equipped with artificial intelligence to Ukraine. The publication called these drones “mini-Taurus” because of their functionality and range.
Whatever one wishes to call these drones, the data on their capabilities sound quite promising. But, they will have to stand up to the harsh conditions of real combat, filled with air defense and EW. We’ll see…
I would sooner have the grown up version of the Taurus.
Me too.
The drone uses AI and ignores jamming. It will find its target on its own. Great piece.
Yes, but only if it does what the manufacturer claims. It needs to be tested in battle.
Come on. It’s Made in Germany. 😁
Yeah! Over-engineered just like their cars. 😁
Thank goodness there’s no BMW badge on those drones.
Maybe they have a VW badge. 😁
Years ago, that would be a solid argument, but since Merkel, not anymore. 🤮