United to win: German Rheinmetall and US Auterion collaborate to create software for drones used in NATO countries and Ukraine

Germany's largest defense company, Rheinmetall, collaborates with American software specialist Auterion to develop common standards for controlling autonomous drones.

Financial Times reports this.

Lorenz Mayer, CEO of Auterion, whose software is already used by drones in Ukraine, said:

"In the overall transition from manned to unmanned systems, it is essential that autonomous systems can interact with each other."

Mayer noted that the Auterion operating system will allow "the customer to unite all drones on a common basis and integrate different manufacturers into a common architecture. "

According to Timo Haas, Rheinmetall's director of digital technologies, there are more than "two hundred different aerial unmanned systems" operating in Ukraine, "military training is costly and time-consuming, and system compatibility is not guaranteed."

"Developing a common operating system will ensure efficient and scalable deployment of unmanned systems," he added.

Auterion, along with other companies, is already part of a US Department of Defense initiative to develop an open-source standard for autonomous systems.

The company hopes its partnership with Rheinmetall will help to introduce a similar approach among NATO allies.

"If each NATO country has its own communication standard for unmanned aircraft, NATO will not be able to fight together," Mayer said.

Earlier, German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall and Croatian robotics company DOK-ING said they would join forces to develop unmanned vehicles that could accompany tanks on the battlefield and perform tasks such as mine clearance, air defense, or reconnaissance.

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It should be noted that the Federal Antimonopoly Office of Germany allowed Rheinmetall to create a joint venture with Ukraine at the end of September. The company was reported to be based in Kyiv.

It was also previously reported that the German concern Rheinmetall was negotiating the construction of a tank plant in Ukraine.

Rheinmetall noted that the Kremlin's threats to intensify the bombing of Ukraine would not affect the German arms company's intentions to build a tank factory in Ukraine.

On June 11, it was announced that the Ukrainian Defense Industry and Rheinmetall had commenced their first joint workshop in Ukraine to repair and manufacture armored vehicles.

It is important to note that Rheinmetall was actively helping Ukraine in the war against Russia by supplying ammunition and various equipment. In particular, the concern recently received a new order for artillery shells for Ukraine.

The Rheinmetall company will build four weapons production plants in Ukraine, one of which is already working.