Aerial Drones & UAV Systems
UAVs, loitering munitions and the systems that fly them — from tactical quadcopters to long-endurance platforms.
Loitering munition Virtus from Stark: 45th Armoured Brigade “Litauen” tests it at “Freedom Shield 2026”
Stark's Virtus loitering munition is to be tested for the first time in Lithuania during “Freedom Shield 2026”. The setting is a six-day combat exercise at the Rudninkai training area, while the 37th Armoured Infantry Brigade trains in parallel at “Grand Eagle 26”.
Drone stations for maritime surveillance: Rift begins tests off the French coast
Rift is testing autonomous drone stations that launch drones on their own after a radar alert. The state is funding the trials with 1.3 million euros from “France 2030”. A later roll-out along the French coast has not yet been decided.
Unmanned cargo aircraft Lifter: Oshkosh Defense and Grid Aero plan series production
Oshkosh Defense is backing an unmanned cargo aircraft from Grid Aero: the Lifter is to be built cheaply and in large numbers. Orders, production figures and delivery dates have not yet been disclosed.
Drone factory in a container: Sentinel AMS targets the Arctic with StarForge
Instead of shipping spare parts over thousands of kilometres, Sentinel AMS from Québec wants to print drones where they are needed. The mobile drone factory StarForge combines production, a command post with radar and its own power supply.
Drone strikes: Ukraine reports more than 1,000 Russian military boats destroyed or disabled
Kyiv has published a monthly tally of its drone strikes on Russian military boats, with July the peak month. The hits are logged in the Delta system and verified by Brave1 – the figures cannot be independently confirmed.
Early warning radar on the MQ-9B: Saab and General Atomics flight-test LoyalEye
Over Southern California, Saab’s LoyalEye early warning radar on board an MQ-9B detected, tracked and classified air targets. For Saab and GA-ASI, the flight test marks a further step towards unmanned early warning systems.
Drone manufacturer Quantum Systems aims to become a defence prime through acquisitions and new markets
From drone manufacturer to major prime contractor in Europe: co-CEO Florian Seibel describes how Quantum Systems intends to grow through acquisitions, markets such as Japan and the P19 aircraft – and why the supply of chips worries him.
Reconnaissance drones for US Special Operations Command: Tekever reports completion
Validation and acceptance tests are complete, and Tekever's reconnaissance drones are now in service with USSOCOM. The Lisbon-based manufacturer does not name the quantity, model or contract value – much points to the AR3.
Interceptor drone Blade: Ukrainian Ministry of Defence approves procurement from Phantom Defense
With its inclusion in the procurement plan, the way is clear for the Blade interceptor drone to reach the Ukrainian armed forces. This does not yet mean ordered quantities or large deliveries – and the drone is not meant to work on its own anyway.
Reconnaissance drone AR5: British Army orders from Tekever for up to £400 million
Under Project CORVUS, the British Army is acquiring the AR5 from Portuguese manufacturer Tekever. The contract for the reconnaissance drone is worth up to £400 million; production will mainly take place in Swindon, and introduction is to begin in 2026.
Jet drone Nightshade Mk-2: Apollyon Dynamics from Hyderabad publishes first images
A real fuselage instead of computer graphics: Indian start-up Apollyon Dynamics offers a first look at its Nightshade Mk-2 jet drone. Technical data are still missing, and the date of the first flight is also open.
Drone pilots from Ukraine inflict heavy losses on US armoured brigade in major exercise at Hohenfels
During “Combined Resolve 26-07”, around 70 per cent of a US armoured brigade's simulated losses in the first three days were caused by Ukrainian drone pilots. The brigade adapted its tactics and in the end attacked with more than 700 drones of its own.
Interceptor drone Skyron set to benefit: Quantum Systems flies Apex Recordhunter at 777 km/h
On a military training area in central Germany, the Apex Recordhunter breaks 777 km/h, but the flight in the opposite direction fails. For Quantum Systems, more than a world record is at stake: the know-how is to flow into a faster interceptor drone.