German defense company Stark has secured a contract to supply its loitering munitions to a NATO country. The contract was signed in early February, and the first deliveries of drones are scheduled for this month, with deliveries to be completed by the end of August this year.
While the company has not specified the drone in question, hartpunkthas learned from Stark that it is the Virtus loitering munition.
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The cost of the deal and the volume of deliveries remain unknown. Due to confidentiality, the manufacturer declined to disclose the customer, saying only that it is a Northern European country.
The company highlighted its ability to rapidly deploy its unmanned systems and to serve as a reliable, long-term partner, particularly at a time when "speed, reliability, and a deep understanding of operational realities are crucial."
First unveiled in April last year, Stark's Virtus drone has "undergone months of testing in the challenging conditions of Ukraine," according to the company. It is known that the company also has a representative office in Ukraine.
Defense Express previously reported on the capabilities of Stark's Virtus autonomous kamikaze drone. It has a vertical takeoff and landing system, artificial intelligence integrated into the guidance system, a range of 100 km, a maximum speed of 250 km/h, and can carry a payload of up to 5 kg.
The German Armed Forces also purchase Virtus drones for their own needs. On the one hand Rheinmetall appears to be trailing two startups in the development of a drone comparable to the Bulava or Lancet. Meanwhile, Virtus drones were reportedly unable to hit their targets during training exercises. However, the Bundeswehr rejected claims that its Lancet-like drones performed poorly.
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