Members of the next German government have agreed to postpone the country's purchase of armed drones indefinitely following controversy over their use and cost.
A draft version of the coalition agreement between the Conservatives and the Social Democrats seen by news site Spiegel states: "We categorically reject illegal killings by drones. Germany will support the use of unmanned weapons systems for the purposes of international disarmament and arms control."
The move is a blow to outgoing defence minister Thomas de Mazière who was slated for spending hundreds of millions of euros on Euro Hawk drones which were never allowed to fly over German airspace.
Germany was in talks with both the US manufacturer of Predator drones as well as their Israeli competitor, which produces Heron drones, to buy 16 in the next few years.
thelocal
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