Germany to finance tens of thousands of interceptor drones for Ukraine

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced on 4 October, during a visit to Kyiv, that Berlin will finance the procurement of tens of thousands of interceptor drones for Ukraine's defence forces. The funding forms part of Germany's winter military assistance package, Ukrainska Pravda reported, citing the press service of Quantum Systems.

The drones will come from Quantum WIY Industries, a joint venture between Ukraine's WIY Drones and Germany's Quantum Systems. According to the company, the drones will be manufactured in Ukraine, allowing production to scale up directly in line with the growing need to defend against Russian strike drones. The order is also expected to boost output of interceptor systems already deployed in Ukraine.

During his Kyiv visit, Merz met with representatives of the German manufacturer. The companies plan to expand drone production inside Ukraine in response to intensifying Russian attacks that increasingly involve jet-powered drones. Sven Kruck, Co-CEO of Quantum Systems, said Ukraine needs interceptor drones on an industrial scale, and that expanding production in the country would allow a faster response to the immediate threat while simultaneously building industrial capacity that benefits Germany and its allies as well.

At a defence industry roundtable attended by Merz and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Quantum Systems also signed a memorandum with Ukraine's Fire Point to jointly develop unmanned technologies and systems aimed at countering modern aerial threats.

The partnership builds on earlier steps: in April 2026, WIY and Quantum Systems signed a cooperation memorandum to establish a joint venture producing WIY Strila interceptors against Shahed-type drones. In August 2026, Ukrainian troops began combat testing of WIY Drones' Spys interceptor, designed to counter jet-powered UAVs, after an initial batch of 50 units was delivered to units.