Bundeswehr Wants To Extend Division Strike Depth From 150 To 500 km With OWE 500+ Drones
Germany plans to change its doctrine so that divisions can hit targets at 500 km instead of 150 km, and is forming its first unmanned systems regiment. Defense Express notes that the tools for this do not yet exist.
The current doctrine of the German army requires a division to be able to carry out long-range strikes at a distance of 150 kilometers. The Bundeswehr leadership wants to change it and increase this figure to 500 kilometers. For this, it plans to use analogues of jet-powered Shaheds designated OWE 500+.
The intention was reported by Hartpunkt. According to the outlet, the change in doctrine was announced by the Bundeswehr's Inspector General, Lieutenant General Christian Freuding. The post of Inspector General is the equivalent of the Chief of the General Staff. Freuding spoke about this in early October during experimental events of the Land 2026 series.
Freuding separately noted that it is precisely for this change that the first unmanned systems regiment is due to appear in the German army's 10th Panzer Division in 2027.
The authors of Hartpunkt are convinced that the Inspector General meant the jet-powered OWE 500+ from MBDA. Their cost is about 100,000 euros, which reportedly allows them to be used at a rate of 100 units per day.
In its own comments, Defense Express pointed out that the emergence of new strike capabilities primarily requires creating the relevant units and training personnel. The first unmanned systems regiment will appear only in 2027, and long-range UAVs are mentioned in it as just one of the components.
It is unknown whether Germany has ordered the jet-powered OWE 500+ or other types of drones. All that is known is that France ordered this weapon in January 2026, but nothing is currently being reported about progress with deliveries. The European jet-powered drone with a 155 mm shell inside became known as early as June 2025. Defense Express believes that a period of almost 1.5 years is sufficient at least for launching production.