Aerial Drones & UAV Systems
UAVs, loitering munitions and the systems that fly them — from tactical quadcopters to long-endurance platforms.
Combat drone Bayraktar Akinci receives Al-Tariq precision munitions from Edge
Two new agreements at SAHA 2026: Edge from the Emirates and Baykar from Türkiye are bringing the Al-Tariq munition to the Akinci combat drone and plan to market each other's products in future.
Counter-UAS and drones: European Commission seeks founding members of the EU-Ukraine Drone Alliance
After repeated airspace violations over EU states, the Commission is drawing on Ukraine's experience in drones and Counter-UAS. An industry-led alliance is to bring together manufacturers, start-ups and end users.
FPV drones in the Austrian Armed Forces: the lessons training aims to draw from drone warfare
Two weeks to basic FPV skills, drone building within a few days: at the Theresian Military Academic Forum (TMAF) in Wiener Neustadt, speakers showed how the Theresian Military Academy intends to bring FPV drones into training.
Interceptor drone Sting: Wild Hornets report shooting down jet-powered Shaheds
Jet-powered Shaheds were long considered too fast and too high for small interceptors. Ukrainian manufacturer Wild Hornets now reports several hits by its Sting interceptor drone, in some cases controlled from hundreds of kilometres away.
MQ-9B SkyGuardian for Austria: what the GA-ASI drone is meant to offer the Austrian Armed Forces
Austria faces a turning point in defence procurement. GA-ASI is positioning the MQ-9B SkyGuardian as the answer: with reconnaissance, precision strike, certification for civil airspace and de-icing for operations in the mountains.
Drone warfare in Ukraine: drone pilots are running out of targets
Kyiv aimed to take out up to 50,000 Russian soldiers a month in 2026; actual Russian losses currently stand at more than 30,000. An adviser to the defence minister offers a surprising explanation for the gap in drone warfare: there are enough drones, but not enough enemies.
Unmanned tanker MQ-25A Stingray: first aircraft for the US Navy completes maiden flight
An unmanned tanker for aircraft carriers is drawing closer: Boeing has flown the US Navy's first MQ-25A for two hours, including the MD-5 ground control station. Further test flights and carrier qualification at Patuxent River will follow.
Cardboard drones: Japan's military turns to Air Kamui's Airkamuy
Defence Minister Shinjirō Koizumi has visited the start-up Air Kamui in Nagoya. The Japanese navy already uses its cardboard drones as aerial targets; one-way swarms for reconnaissance would be a further option.
Drone swarm with AI: Stark brings Virtus and Minerva to Bundeswehr exercise
Reconnaissance drones, command software and loitering munitions in one network: Stark took part with Virtus and Minerva in further Bundeswehr tests of the AI-supported drone swarm. An operational capability is to be in place by 2027.
Drones for Ukraine: Estonia provides 110 million euros in military aid in 2026
Estonia is spending at least 0.25 per cent of its GDP on military aid in 2026 – with the focus on drones for Ukraine and counter-drone systems. Added to this are funds for digitalising the Ukrainian military and a declaration of intent on weapons production.
Military drones in Belgium: Land Component expands UAS ecosystem around drone unit in Peutie
Since September 2025, a dedicated unit in Peutie has maintained the Belgian forces’ micro drones, with mini and small drones following from June 2026. A training programme with industry, simulators and new capabilities against hostile military drones complete the picture.
AI drone network: Bundeswehr successfully continues trials in Ohrdruf
After the first test series in the Altmark, more complex scenarios followed in Ohrdruf: the Bundeswehr’s AI-supported drone network hit static and moving targets. Panzerbrigade 45 in Lithuania is to be equipped with it in 2027.
Drone battery with over 500 Wh/kg: Sion Power unveils Licerion cells for military systems
Longer flight time, more payload, less weight: with two lithium-metal Licerion cells, Sion Power is targeting unmanned military systems. One cell is intended for loitering munitions, the other as a rechargeable drone battery for long missions.