Aerial Drones & UAV Systems
UAVs, loitering munitions and the systems that fly them — from tactical quadcopters to long-endurance platforms.
Unmanned systems combined: Six Robotics and Stark agree recce-strike partnership
Norwegian swarm software meets Stark's loitering munition: under a memorandum of understanding, unmanned systems from both companies are to carry out recce-strike missions together. A first integration phase has already been tested.
Unmanned ground vehicles: Quantum Systems and Daimler Truck network trucks with Mosaic
Daimler Truck lorries are to interact with drones and other systems via the Mosaic software. The MoU with Quantum Systems targets convoys, teleoperated driving and unmanned ground vehicles in military logistics.
Drone manufacturer Primoco UAV SE: Spain's Guardia Civil orders the One 150
The first major order of 2026 brings the Czech drone manufacturer around 4 million euros. The Guardia Civil wants to use the One 150 to monitor maritime and border areas – while Primoco is expanding production in Písek.
Kamikaze drones for the US armed forces: Pentagon plans to order 30,000
Following the "Gauntlet" trials at Fort Benning, the winners have been selected and the order for 30,000 kamikaze drones is being prepared. The goal: low-cost systems down to every infantry squad – criticism from the Senate included.
Civilian drones in support of Austria: inside the Drohnenkorps Österreich
Martin Held is a former Jagdkommando soldier, trained airline pilot, founder and CEO of drone service provider Hero Aero – and now initiator of an association with big plans: an interface for civilian drones between authorities, emergency organisations and drone pilots.
Reconnaissance drones for Armenia: Washington delivers Shield AI's V-BAT to Yerevan
For the first time, the US is officially announcing a major arms deal with Armenia: the agreement on V-BAT reconnaissance drones is worth around 11 million US dollars. It became public after J.D. Vance's visit to Yerevan.
Drone control on the ground: Panasonic Toughbook shows rugged notebooks and tablets at Xponential Europe
What happens in the air depends on the IT on the ground: for drone control, Panasonic Toughbook is showing notebooks and tablets in Düsseldorf as ground control stations and analysis platforms – built for dust, rain, extreme temperatures and sensitive data.
Drone manufacturer Schiebel plans Schiebel UK: expansion into the British defence sector
Momentum comes from the Peregrine programme with Thales UK and the Royal Navy: drone manufacturer Schiebel intends to set up its own company in the United Kingdom, manufacture there and bring the Camcopter S-300 to market.
Interceptor drones within a year: five NATO countries launch the LEAP programme
Germany, France, Italy, Poland and the United Kingdom want to jointly develop low-cost interceptor drones and autonomous platforms. Behind LEAP lies the question of how cheap drones can be defeated without expensive missiles.
Loitering munition FV-014: Rheinmetall demonstrates system to a potential NATO customer in Cochstedt
Up to 100 kilometres of range, 70 minutes of flight time and constant operator control: Rheinmetall has shown its FV-014 loitering munition at the DLR test centre in Cochstedt and sees this as a further milestone.
Military drones at “Steadfast Dart 2026”: Baykar TB3 launches from “TCG Anadolu” in freezing cold
First time in an amphibious operation and first time in a NATO exercise: at “Steadfast Dart 2026” in the Baltic Sea, the Turkish Navy deployed three Bayraktar TB3 military drones from the deck of “TCG Anadolu”. The major exercise involves around 10,000 personnel from 13 nations.
Unmanned systems in the CCA programme: US Air Force selects Shield AI as mission autonomy provider
The Hivemind autonomy software is already flying in Anduril's YFQ-44A Fury, with flight demonstrations expected in the coming months. Now the US Air Force has selected Shield AI for the TMRR phase of its programme for unmanned systems in air combat.
Drone warfare at Hedgehog 2025: Ukrainian pilots knock out entire NATO battalions
Ten Ukrainian drone pilots, 17 armoured vehicles destroyed in simulation within half a day: the exercise in Estonia shows how drone warfare makes the battlefield transparent – and why the result has alarmed NATO.