Stark gained recognition after winning a tender alongside Helsing (manufacturer of the HX-2 loitering munition supplied to Ukraine) to deliver the first batch of kamikaze drones to the Bundeswehr. The company has now revealed specifications for its own development - the Stark One Way Effector-VTO (OWE-V), also known as Virtus.
According to the developers, the drone was designed directly based on combat experience in Ukraine. It features a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) system and integrates artificial intelligence into its targeting architecture.
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Although the company does not explicitly state this, the presence of offices not only in Berlin and Munich, but also in Kyiv, and its stated mission - to supply drones to NATO countries and key partners such as Ukraine - clearly suggests that the Virtus is already being used on the battlefield against russia.
Virtus has a cruising speed of 120 km/h and accelerates up to 250 km/h during its terminal dive toward a target. It can remain airborne for up to 60 minutes and carry a payload of up to 5 kilograms.
The drone is capable of striking targets up to 100 kilometers away, even in conditions of poor or no signal. This confirms its ability to operate autonomously, engaging predesignated targets in a specified area without relying on continuous communication.
The declared deployment time of the kamikaze drone into a launch-ready position is five minutes. The system also features a Return-and-Land function - if no target is found, the drone can be programmed to return and land safely, allowing it to be reused.
A critical element of any advanced loitering munition is its control system. Virtus is powered by Stark’s proprietary software, Minerva, which enables a single operator to control a large number of drones, making swarm deployment possible.
Stark also states that its production facilities are automated and capable of large-scale manufacturing. Furthermore, the company claims that all components and supply chains are sourced within Europe.
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