Ukraine is already receiving German Virtus attack drones
German-made Virtus attack drones, which were tested in Zaporizhzhia, are already being supplied to the Ukrainian Defense Forces. They are being purchased with funding from the German government.
According to the publication, the company has been supplying these drones to Ukraine for several months, and their production and delivery are funded by the German federal government.
The number of Virtus drones currently delivered to the Ukrainian Defense Forces has not been disclosed.
The company also declined to comment on how these drones performed in combat conditions or which Ukrainian units received them. Additionally, a planned demonstration flight of the Virtus drone was canceled at the last minute.
Stark Defence explained that the terms of its contracts with the German federal government require strict confidentiality, which is why the company does not disclose details regarding the delivery and use of its drones.
In February 2026, the German company announced that it would open a research and development center in Ukraine, which will also provide training and support for end users.
The company’s R&D center will feature a 2,000 m² facility designed to accommodate more than 200 specialists. The center will focus on research and development, integration, training, and technical support.
The company noted that opening the center in Ukraine will enable daily technological iterations based on real-time operational data from the battlefield.
Virtus by STARK
The Virtus drone was publicly unveiled last September. By that time, it had already undergone combat testing by Ukrainian Defense Forces personnel.
The drone has a flight range of up to 100 km and a payload capacity of up to 5 kg, which can include various types of munitions. The camera is located in the nose, and the guidance system is based on visual navigation supplemented by a sensor module.
Machine learning and artificial intelligence algorithms enable target recognition. The operator has the option to manually confirm the target before striking. If necessary, the drone can return to base. Communication is carried out via several channels adapted to electronic warfare conditions.
This information came to light in a Spiegel article following a visit by their journalists to Ukraine. It was highlighted on the GAU project page (@deaidua), which tracks German military aid.
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