What is Anubis – Germany's "Shahed" analogue for Ukraine

Volodymyr Zelenskyy (second from right) and Friedrich Merz (in blue suit in center) inspect the Anubis strike drone. Photo: Clemens Bilan — Pool / Getty Images

On Tuesday, April 14, during the official visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Berlin, a presentation of seven newest drone models took place. The presentation was attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

According to a statement from the Office of the President of Ukraine, all demonstrated samples were developed and manufactured at joint Ukrainian-German enterprises, which underlines the deep integration of the two countries' defense complexes.

Among the novelties presented were various classes of equipment: the "Babka" reconnaissance drone, the "Termit" ground robot, the "Strela" high-speed interceptor drone capable of destroying enemy UAVs at speeds up to 415 km/h, and the Kolibri FPV kamikaze drone for interception and pinpoint strikes.

However, the greatest attention was drawn to the strike systems of the joint company Auterion Airlogix, which combined Ukrainian experience with American-German technologies. This refers to the Anubis and Seth-X drones.

Anubis is positioned as a medium-range strike UAV designed to destroy manpower, armored vehicles, as well as tactical and even strategic targets in the enemy's rear.

Although exact specifications remain classified, analysts from Defense Express suggest that Anubis may be related to another Auterion development — the Artemis ALM-20 drone, which belongs to the long-range strike class. For it, a flight range of up to 1600 kilometers and a warhead weighing about 45 kilograms were declared.

However, in the case of Anubis, it is most likely a reworked version: the drone could have been adapted for medium range — either by reducing its size, or by changing its configuration and payload. This indicates the platform's flexibility and its ability to adapt to specific combat missions.

A key feature of Anubis and Seth-X (which is a more compact kamikaze drone with folding wings) is the software from Auterion. These drones possess a high degree of autonomy.

Artificial intelligence provides them with a high level of autonomy, including navigation, target detection, and engagement.

Such systems are less dependent on GPS and remote control, making them more resilient to electronic warfare. This "smart" component is the key contribution of Auterion, a company specializing in software and hardware solutions for drones.

Павялічыць

Seth-X short-range drone. Photo: Telegram channel of the Office of the President of Ukraine

Production volumes and the future of Anubis drones

The project stands out not only for its technology but also for its unprecedented volumes. The joint venture Auterion Airlogix Joint Venture GmbH, established in February 2026, has already received an official order from the German government for the production of "thousands" of such drones. Funding is entirely covered by the German side.

As reported by the Office of the President of Ukraine, mass production of other models is also being rolled out in parallel. For example, the Linza 3.0 tactical drone (jointly developed by the Ukrainian company Frontline Robotics and the German Quantum Systems) will be produced in volumes of at least 10,000 units per year. It belongs to the class of small tactical drones, has a platform of about 30 centimeters, is capable of carrying a payload of up to 4 kg over a distance of up to 15 km, and can stay airborne for up to 60 minutes.

Thus, the presentation in Berlin demonstrates a global shift in approaches to military aid.

Cooperation between Ukraine and Germany is moving from supplying old equipment from warehouses to creating joint high-tech enterprises of a new generation.

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