Germany announced on September 9th, 2025, that it is working on contracts to supply Ukraine with several thousand Ukrainian-made long-range OWA-UAVs, valued at approximately €300 million. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius reportedly made the announcement today at the UDCG meeting. This new initiative follows Germany's prior funding for the production and delivery of over 500 AN-196 Liutyi long-range OWA-UAVs for Ukraine since 2023. This development comes as Russian forces have been observed effectively engaging Ukrainian drones, with videos published in recent days showing mobile fire groups equipped with machine guns downing multiple An-196 "February" UAVs. Russian tactics reportedly involve crossfire engagement of drones flying low and in sequence, though advancements in drone evasion systems and online management are also noted. Earlier today, Germany confirmed the transfer of Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine. This action is intended to enhance Ukraine's defenses against aerial threats. The specific number of Patriot systems and their arrival timeline were not disclosed by Minister Pistorius.
