Aerial Drones & UAV Systems
UAVs, loitering munitions and the systems that fly them — from tactical quadcopters to long-endurance platforms.
Drone training centre in Nurmsi: Estonia to train Kaitseliit, armed forces and allies
Estonia's first drone training centre has started operations at Koigi airfield. Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur and Peeter Karja of the RKIK stress how important training on unmanned systems has become.
Drone warfare: General Valerii Zaluzhnyi sees the West lagging behind in the drone revolution
The front in Ukraine is frozen and drones make attrition warfare cheap: in a commentary, Valerii Zaluzhnyi urges the West to grasp the lessons of drone warfare quickly – or risk the fate of the victims of Blitzkrieg.
Unmanned systems: Sweden prepares for drone warfare with “Demo UCAV”
FMV, FOI and the armed forces are joining forces in Sweden: the “Demo UCAV” demonstration project is not meant to deliver an operational system but to build knowledge of unmanned systems – drawing on experience from Ukraine.
Bayraktar TB3 combat drone: Baykar completes trials on the aircraft carrier “TCG Anadolu”
Four sorties in one day, all take-offs and landings autonomous: with tests in the Gulf of Saros, the Bayraktar TB3 combat drone has completed its trials on “TCG Anadolu”. The Turkish Ministry of Defence considers the tests a success.
Military drones as a gift: Türkiye hands two Bayraktar TB2 to Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina receives drones, control stations and training free of charge. Kosovo, Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia and Slovenia are also relying on military drones – from the Bayraktar TB2 and Chinese CH-95 to domestic developments.
MQ-9 Reaper shot down over Yemen: Yemeni armed forces report another US loss
According to Tasnim, this would be the 24th Reaper the US Air Force has lost over Yemen. Other sources recently counted twelve or 17 MQ-9 Reapers; if the figure of 24 is correct, losses would amount to around 600 to 700 million euros.
Drone manufacturer Quantum Systems partners with Renk India for local production
Local production, maintenance and R&D: drone manufacturer Quantum Systems plans to expand its business in India together with Renk Gears Private, a subsidiary of the Renk Group. A memorandum of understanding on a strategic partnership has been signed.
FPV drones from 800 kilometres away: Russia tests “Orbita” control system
Test flights near Mariupol, controlled from Tula, and a hit in Ukraine triggered from a civilian office complex in Moscow: Russia wants to steer FPV drones over hundreds of kilometres. How the link is established remains unclear.
Loitering munition from Stark: One Way Effector-Vertical (OWE-V) comes to market
Vertical take-off, AI-supported and designed for an effective range of 100 kilometres: with the OWE-V, Stark is launching its first loitering munition system. At the same time, the company founded in 2024 has joined the UXS Alliance.
UAVs in a team: Airbus controls Primoco drones autonomously with Teaming Intelligence
In the Czech Republic, two Primoco One 150 aircraft shared surveillance areas and tasks – coordinated by Airbus’s Teaming Intelligence software. This is to allow operators to command several UAVs at once; the next step is to turn it into a product.
Military drones: Spain plans tender worth more than 200 million euros
Class I and II military drones are on the annual procurement plan of the Spanish Ministry of Defence. Which types will be bought remains open – according to Infodefensa, candidates include Aertec’s Tarsis and Airbus’s Sirtap.
Loitering munition: Chief of Defence Breuer wants the Bundeswehr firing it this year
Carsten Breuer is pushing for maximum acceleration: systems from Helsing and Stark are apparently in the running, initially for testing. The loitering munition is to close a capability gap in the German armed forces.
Fibre-optic drones in series production: eleven Ukrainian companies master the technology
More than 20 new models certified in the first quarter of 2025 alone, tests over 20 kilometres at Brave1: Ukraine is expanding production of fibre-optic drones. President Zelensky wants contracts geared to maximum capacity.