DroneVation & Defence 2026: podcast episode with voices from the military, industry and authorities

This podcast episode offers a look behind the stage of DroneVation & Defence 2026. The leading symposium for drone and defence technologies took place in Vienna on 21 May. High-calibre experts from the military, industry, academia and public authorities have their say. The topics are forward-looking technologies, ongoing research projects, critical infrastructure and its protection, and the challenges facing the countering of unmanned aircraft systems (counter-UAS).

DroneVation & Defence in figures

The organisers counted 1,200 visitors, around 80 exhibiting companies and more than 50 speakers across two stages. The first edition last year was already a success. This time the symposium was once again a highly sought-after industry meeting, but beyond that also a platform: armed forces, authorities, industry, research and start-ups discussed where drones and their defeat are heading.

Thomas Goiser, host of the podcast Sicherheitsbewusst, collected the voices on site. At “DroneVation & Defence” he met, among others, the following interviewees:

• Stephan Kraschansky, Aaronia
• Iris Zöchbauer, Perivallon Technologies
• Igal Helemski, Rafael
• Matthias Diem, Rheinmetall Air Defence
• Martin Rudolph, Stark Defence
• Lieutenant General Harald Vodosek, Armaments Director, Austrian Armed Forces (Bundesheer)
• Mario E. Magana, Lockheed Martin
• Thomas Rothacher, Deputy Chief of Armaments, Swiss Armed Forces/Armasuisse
• Thomas Haber, Quantum Systems
• Christian Wehrschütz, ORF
• Alexander Liess, Steyr Arms
• Colonel Markus Reisner, Austrian Armed Forces