Germany needs almost €800 million more than planned to buy the Eurodrone, according to an amended draft of the 2027 federal budget seen by Hartpunkt, which the Bundestag's budget committee was due to discuss on Thursday.
The draft adds €291.3 million outside the plan for 2027 and raises the commitments for the following years by €507.6 million to about €1.16 billion. It gives design optimisation and a change in how the costs are shared as the reasons. Hartpunkt says the change in cost-sharing is probably linked to Dassault leaving the programme in the summer, with much of its role reportedly going to Liebherr.
The Eurodrone is a programme of Germany, France, Italy and Spain led by OCCAR, with Airbus Defence and Space as the industrial lead. It is in development and due to make its first flight in 2029. India and Japan take part as observers.
Also reported by Infodron
Background
Eurodrone
Medium-altitude long-endurance drone
A drone developed by Germany, France, Italy and Spain under OCCAR, with Airbus Defence and Space as industrial lead.
OCCAR
Defence procurement organisation
The Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation, which leads the Eurodrone programme.
