German army to expand drone deployment
Exercise on NATO’s eastern flank: Germany’s 45 Armoured Brigade practising coordination of armoured divisions and drones in Lithuania.
Pabrade (dpa) – The German army is keen to rapidly expand its deployment of drones and autonomous weapon systems. As Inspector of the German Army Lieutenant General Christian Freuding said during a visit to the Freedom Shield 2026 military exercise in Lithuania, coordination of armoured divisions and units that operate drones is of “paramount importance” for the land forces of the Bundeswehr.
During the military exercise, Germany’s 45 Armoured Brigade, which was activated last year, is undergoing combat training on Lithuanian soil for the first time and also has 350 drones with it. The inspector was shown command posts and operational concepts for drone deployment.
Around 2,900 soldiers – including 2,300 from Germany – and some 800 vehicles from eight NATO states were brought to the Pabrade military training area for the exercise on NATO’s eastern flank. The training ground is located about 20 kilometres from the border to Belarus.
The armoured brigade in Lithuania was pledged by the German government in response to the growing threat posed by Russia. By 2027, the brigade is to be fully ready for deployment as a combat unit with a total of 4,800 soldiers and 200 civilian personnel. So far, around 1,800 personnel are stationed in Lithuania. “This exercise is very important for deterrent purposes on the eastern flank,” said Freuding.
