German army prepares to develop deep-strike drones, Handelsblatt reports
Three consortia are working on concrete concepts after the Luftwaffe airforce sent a request for deep-strike drones to leading defence companies and startups, the report said.
According to the report, Airbus Defence is contributing to the project alongside U.S. startup Kratos, while Germany's Rheinmetall has teamed up with drone specialist Anduril. Munich-based startup Helsing is also involved, the report said.
The German defence ministry confirmed preparations for such a project to Handelsblatt, saying that initial talks had taken place but that no formal tender had been issued.
The ministry and the companies mentioned did not respond to emailed requests for comment from Reuters.
(Writing by Friederike Heine, Editing by Rachel More)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
30 minutes ago
- The Star
Exclusive-Trump administration to formally axe Elon Musk's 'five things' email
FILE PHOTO: Nov 16, 2024; New York, NY, USA; President-elect Donald Trump talks with Elon Musk (right) during UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images/File Photo WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Trump administration plans as soon as Tuesday to formally axe a program launched by billionaire former Trump adviser Elon Musk requiring federal employees to summarize their five workplace achievements from the prior week, two people familiar with the matter said. The Office of Personnel Management, the federal human resources agency that implemented Musk's push to slash the federal workforce, plans to announce the end of the "five things" email to HR representatives across the federal government later on Tuesday, the two people said, declining to be named because the matter was not public. While many federal agencies had already phased out compliance with the weekly email, the move, not previously reported, signals the Trump administration is turning the page on one of Musk's most unpopular initiatives following a dramatic row between the two men in early June. The White House and OPM did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Musk, who spent over a quarter of a billion dollars to help Trump win November's presidential election, led the Department of Government Efficiency's efforts to slash the budget and cut the federal workforce until his departure in May to refocus on his tech empire. Musk initially received a warm White House sendoff from Trump, but then incurred the president's wrath by describing Trump's tax cut and spending bill as an abomination. Trump pulled the nomination of Musk ally and tech entrepreneur Jared Isaacman to lead NASA and later threatened to cancel billions of dollars worth of federal contracts with Musk's companies after the blowup between the two men. The "five things" email, launched by Musk in February to boost accountability, sparked tensions with department chiefs who were blindsided by the weekend email mandating the move. It also fueled confusion among government workers who received mixed messages about whether and how to comply. Reuters reported in March that the White House installed two Trump loyalists at OPM to ensure better policy coordination between the White House and the agency. Scott Kupor, a venture capitalist who took the helm at OPM in July, foreshadowed the end of the initiative last month, describing processing of the weekly response emails as "very manual" and "not efficient." It is "something that we should look at and see, like, are we getting the value out of it that at least the people who put it in place thought they were," he said. (Reporting by Alexandra Alper; Editing by Sally Buzbee and Rod Nickel)
The Star
41 minutes ago
- The Star
EU halts 93-bln-euro tariffs on U.S. goods despite members' dissent
BRUSSELS, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- The European Commission on Tuesday formally suspended planned retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports worth 93 billion euros (about 108 billion U.S. dollars), just days before they were due to take effect. The Commission's trade spokesperson, Olof Gill, said the decision was adopted under an emergency procedure and will require formal approval by a simple majority of member states within two weeks. The tariffs were scheduled to take effect on Aug. 7. "The Commission has today adopted necessary legal procedures to suspend the implementation of our European Union (EU) countermeasures," Gill told a press briefing in Brussels, adding that the regulation would be published in the EU's official journal later the same day. Ahead of this announcement, there has been mounting criticism from key member states, including France and Germany. German Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil has expressed frustration at what he described as a "weak" negotiating stance by the EU during the trade talks with the United States. "I think we were too weak. We can't be satisfied with the result that was achieved," Klingbeil said, referring to the agreement reached late last month between European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and U.S. President Donald Trump. Under the deal, most EU imports to the United States will face a 15-percent tariff, while the bloc has pledged to purchase more American energy products and increase investment in the U.S. market. Gill expressed surprise at Klingbeil's remarks, noting that member states had been "fully briefed" and had supported a negotiated outcome to avoid tariff escalation. The spokesperson said the suspension would remain in place for six months, during which implementation of the broader understanding would continue. If commitments are not met, Gill noted, the EU retains the right to reactivate its countermeasures. (1 euro = 1.16 dollar)
The Sun
4 hours ago
- The Sun
Man Utd and Newcastle bid for Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko
Premier League clubs Manchester United and Newcastle United have reportedly made competing bids for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, according to German tabloid Bild. The 22-year-old Slovenian forward has attracted strong interest following his performances last season. Manchester United tabled an initial offer of 85 million euros (£73.9 million) on Tuesday, matching Newcastle's revised bid of the same amount, which included performance-related bonuses. The Magpies had initially offered 80 million euros over the weekend before increasing their proposal. Sesko, who scored 13 goals and provided five assists in the Bundesliga last season, was left out of Leipzig's recent friendly against Atalanta amid transfer speculation. Sporting director Marcel Schaefer confirmed the decision, stating, 'due to the very concrete interests from several clubs.' The Red Devils are looking to revamp their attack after a dismal campaign, having already signed Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo this summer. Sesko's potential arrival could signal the departure of Rasmus Hojlund, with reports suggesting United may offload the Dane for 35 million euros—less than half his 2023 transfer fee. Newcastle, meanwhile, secured Champions League football with a fifth-place finish but face uncertainty over Alexander Isak's future, with Liverpool reportedly interested. - AFP
