Germany will provide Ukraine with more than 100 million euros to produce An-196 strike drones that can hit targets at distances exceeding 1000 km.

This information comes from Spiegel, citing its own sources.

Funding for An-196 Drone Production

According to sources, the German government plans to invest significant amounts, measured in hundreds of millions of euros, into the production of Ukrainian combat drones.

This funding will specifically be directed towards the creation of An-196 strike UAVs.

These drones are designed for deep-target strikes, equipped with a warhead, and capable of covering distances of up to 2000 km.

It is expected that with German funding, Ukraine will be able to manufacture several hundred of these combat drones.

This move aligns with the broader strategy of the European Union to integrate Ukraine's defense industry, leveraging its unique wartime experience, particularly in drone production.

Sources believe that further investments from other partner countries will significantly enhance Ukraine's defense capabilities.

About the Luyt (An-196) Drone

The “Luyt” is a Ukrainian kamikaze strike drone designed for long-range target attacks.

The development of this drone was announced by the state concern “Ukroboronprom” in October 2022, stating its intention to create an UAV with a warhead weighing 75 kg and an overall weight of over 200 kg.

The production of the first batch of these drones was completed in August 2023.

It is believed that one of the first combat uses of the “Luyt” occurred on August 28, 2023, when Ukrainian special forces attacked the base of the 126th Coastal Defense Brigade of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in occupied Crimea.