Tel Aviv: Israeli company Elbit Systems and Diehl Defense signed a strategic partnership agreement to jointly offer the Israeli company’s SkyStriker advanced loitering munition system to the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr), and if awarded, produce, and provide support.
The SkyStriker is an autonomous, long range loitering munition designed to locate, track, and engage operator designated high-value targets with high accuracy. Drawing on extensive operational experience across different regions and multiple international programmes, the system combines versatility, lethality, and advanced autonomy to meet a wide range of mission requirements including “seek and strike” and border protection.
Capable of carrying up to a 10-kilogram warhead, loitering more than two hours, and achieving a range of over 200 km – SkyStriker provides high precision strike capability and can be launched from numerous platforms – including land-based vehicles, the EuroPULS rocket launcher, naval vessels, containers and aircraft – providing operational flexibility across all domains.
Elbit Systems, together with its German Subsidiary, Elbit Systems Deutschland, and Diehl Defence will combine their complementary technologies, industrial capabilities, and deep operational expertise to offer a high performance, mature loitering munition solution, tailored specifically to Germany’s defence and modernisation priorities. This collaboration aims to meet Germany’s growing need for state-of-the-art loitering munition systems, including by expansion of autonomous precision strike and reconnaissance capabilities.
The partnership also includes local manufacturing, assembly, integration, and qualification activities at Diehl Defence, if awarded relevant programmes, supporting the development of sovereign capabilities and strengthening the German defence industry.
This cooperation reflects the growing demand for advanced, precise, and flexible loitering munition systems and supports Germany’s objective to significantly enhance its capabilities in this domain.
Bezhalel (Butzi) Machlis, President and CEO of Elbit Systems, commented, “The partnership with Diehl Defense, together with the strong local presence of Elbit Systems Deutschland, is another important step in strengthening our long-standing presence in Europe and supporting Germany’s defence modernisation priorities. By combining Diehl’s deep experience in system integration and production with Elbit’s advanced loitering munition technology, we aim to provide a powerful and future ready solution for the German Armed Forces.”
Helmut Rauch, Diehl Defense CEO stated, “Diehl Defense is proud to partner with Elbit Systems in the field of loitering munition to strengthen Germany’s capabilities in this segment. This cooperation does not only strengthen the development of sovereign capabilities but also the German defence industry.”
-The writer is an Israel-based freelance journalist. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
