German Army simplifies the purchase of commercial drones

8 December, 2024 Autel EVO MAX 4T. Photo from open sources. The German army has simplified the procedure for purchasing small commercial drones from Autel and DJI for its own needs.

Hartpunkt reported on this. To this end, the Procurement Office of the Bundeswehr Federal Office for Technology, Information Technology, and Technical Support (BAAINBw) has signed two framework agreements for supplying commercial small drones for 2025 and 2026. The divisions can now purchase Autel Evo Max 4T and DJI Matrice 30 drones from local dealers selected through a tender process without the need to announce a tender for each individual purchase and use the general budget for this purpose.

DJI Matrice 30 T drone

According to the media, although Chinese manufacturers make both systems, they belong to the "blue list" of authorized systems.

This is because German suppliers modify them to meet the required information security standards.

Procurement procedure

German units have been allowed to purchase and use commercial drones since the end of 2023. However, at that time, drones had to be paid for from the "flexible budget funds for commanders" (Kdr), which financed many other decentralized procurements. Before that, the annual allocation under this budget line was very small.

And in the case of expensive drones, they could be enough to purchase only one system. In addition, such procurement required a tender for each purchase, which greatly complicated and slowed down the process. As BAAINBw explained at the publication's request, the process will now be much simpler, as the troops will be able to order certain drones directly from the framework agreement.

Funding will also be centralized outside the Kdr procedure. However, if necessary, military units will also be able to order additional drones using Kdr funds, but now without needing separate tenders, but simply by contacting the supplier under the signed framework agreements. In October 2024, it was announced that the German military was equipping more army units with the Vector reconnaissance drone from Quantum-Systems.

Vector unmanned aerial vehicle.

Photo credits: Quantum-Systems

The Vector UAV will be transferred to the Army Intelligence units and reconnaissance companies from the Airborne Brigades and the Mountain Infantry Brigade of the Rapid Response Division.

The Special Operations Forces will also receive a larger number of UAVs.