Diehl Defence and Elbit Systems sign strategic partnership on SkyStriker

On the occasion of ILA Air Show 2026 in Berlin, Diehl Defence and Elbit Systems Ltd. signed a strategic partnership agreement to jointly offer the SkyStriker advanced loitering munition system to the German Armed Forces. The partnership also covers local manufacturing, assembly, integration, and qualification activities on behalf of Diehl Defence.

The SkyStriker is an autonomous, long-range loitering munition designed to locate, track, and engage operator-designated high-value targets with high accuracy. Drawing on extensive operational experience across different regions and multiple international programs, the system combines versatility, lethality, and advanced autonomy to meet a wide range of mission requirements including "seek and strike" and border protection.

Capable of carrying up to a 10-kilogram warhead, loitering more than two hours, and achieving a range of over 200 km – SkyStriker provides high-precision strike capability. It can be launched from numerous platforms – including land-based vehicles, the EuroPULS rocket launcher, naval vessels, containers and aircraft – providing operational flexibility across all domains.

Elbit Systems, together with its German subsidiary Elbit Systems Deutschland, and Diehl Defence will combine their complementary technologies, industrial capabilities, and deep operational expertise to offer a high-performance, mature loitering munition solution, tailored specifically to Germany’s defence and modernization priorities. This collaboration aims to meet Germany’s growing need for state-of-the-art loitering munition systems, including by expansion of autonomous precision-strike and reconnaissance capabilities.

Helmut Rauch, CEO of Diehl Defence, states: “Diehl Defence is proud to partner with Elbit systems in the field of loitering munition to push ahead Germany’s capabilities in this segment. This cooperation does not only strengthen the development of sovereign capabilities, but also the German defence industry.”

Bezhalel (Butzi) Machlis, President and CEO of Elbit Systems, emphasizes: “By combining Diehl Defence’s deep experience in system integration and production with Elbit’s advanced loitering munition technology, we aim to provide a powerful and future-ready solution for the German Armed Forces.