German politicians like to talk about Zeitenwende – the country’s great turning point in its defence policy since the invasion of Ukraine. And it has certainly turned: towards spending billions of taxpayer euros on drones that cannot fly in frontline situations, seemingly cannot hit their targets, and whose largest investors sit not in Berlin or Brussels, but in Silicon Valley boardrooms with direct lines to the White House and CIA. If this is European defence sovereignty, one could wonder what this dependency actually looks like. And if Europe really is serious about this change.

Last week, Reuters confirmed that the German government plans to award contracts worth €536 million to two drone startups – Stark Defence and Helsing – for loitering munitions destined for Germany’s 45th Tank Brigade in Lithuania. The contracts are part of a framework deal potentially worth €4.3 billion. It seems a good deal: homegrown European technology, built by European entrepreneurs, defending Nato’s eastern flank against Russia. The reality is rather less inspiring.

Let’s start with the technology. In October 2025, Stark’s flagship Virtus drone was put through its paces in trials with British and German armed forces. It missed every single target across four attempts. One drone lost control before crashing into nearby woodland. Another’s battery caught fire on impact. Stark’s official response was bracing: ‘We did not crash once or twice, we have........

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