LION STRIKE warhead demonstrated for the first time in live firing in VIRTUS.
The system will be usable against reactive armour in the future.
Development is progressing rapidly. Delivery capability by the end of 2026.
Bavaria, 22 December 2025:
TDW and STARK have achieved a major milestone with the first successful hot strike in Germany of the LION STRIKE 110 (LS110) warhead integrated into the VIRTUS loitering munition. The move demonstrates the ability to deliver thousands of Virtus with an integrated German warhead and fuzing system, a decisive factor for the operational readiness of Allied Armed Forces.
Just a few months after signing the cooperation agreement, the European industry has demonstrated that it can deliver new capabilities with high speed and clear focus.
The developed warhead system is based on TDW’s new LION STRIKE line and will be available both as a pure anti-armor variant and as a multi-effect version. With tandem-shaped charges, fragmentation jackets, and various weight classes, there is room for further performance increases and adaptation to emerging threats. The test demonstrated above-average penetration capability.
STARK complements this performance with a scalable, modular system design. Together, TDW and STARK ensure the necessary flexibility to engage targets precisely and in line with tactical requirements.
Dr. André Schneider, Co-Founder and Board Member of STARK, says:
“Today we demonstrated that Germany can deliver. We are providing NATO and Ukraine with a weapon system capable of penetrating even the strongest armor, available in large quantities. This secures core capabilities that Allied Armed Forces and partners urgently need on the modern battlefield.”
The first hot strike marks further evidence that the German defence industry, in the context of the Zeitenwende, is operating significantly faster, more agile, and more effectively. With assured production, scalable quantities, and a complete system that is already demonstrating operational maturity, TDW and STARK are contributing to the deterrence capabilities of Europe and its partners.
