Unmanned Systems News
The latest news on unmanned systems, counter-UAS and the defence industry, from Europe and around the world.
Industry News
Contracts, partnerships, product launches and market moves from manufacturers and suppliers of unmanned systems.
Startups & Innovators
New companies, funding rounds, first products and market entries.
People & Appointments
Leadership changes, new positions, appointments and profiles.
Drone electronics from Finland: Arctic Ravn secures 2.5 million euros within five days
Instead of the targeted two million euros, Arctic Ravn received commitments of 2.5 million euros in five days. The Finnish company intends to use the funds to advance the production and development of its drone electronics.
Counter-drone protection for vehicles: Graz start-up Guardaero wins “Protection Award” in Munich
At the Defence Innovation Pitch Day 2026 in Munich, the “Protection Award” went to Graz. Guardaero won it for APS1, an active counter-drone system designed to protect military vehicles automatically against FPV drones. Market readiness is planned for 2027.
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.
Counter-UAS from Austria: GuardAero APS1 protects military vehicles at close range
A win at the ADIC hackathon became a research project with the BMLV and the Bundesheer: Graz start-up GuardAero has tested its APS1 counter-UAS system in live-fire trials. Vehicle integration, market readiness by 2027 and a further funding round are next.
Counter-UAS laser: Inleap Photonics raises 20 million euros for series production
UVC Partners leads the seed round, joined by four further investors from Germany, Poland, Estonia and Denmark. Inleap Photonics plans to use the money to build its counter-UAS laser effectors in larger numbers and to expand in Europe.
Acoustic drone detection: Monava brings in Gungnir Capital, Foundry Ventures and Hede Capital as investors
Passive sensors, AI analysis, use in Ukraine: Monava has raised new capital for its acoustic drone detection. The founder speaks of booming demand – and of the strains of rapid growth.
Counter-UAS start-up Yolo Machines: Romania’s bid to change air defence
Just one year ago, Romanian entrepreneur Lorand Minyo founded Yolo Machines in Cluj. The start-up develops an autonomous counter-UAS system and aims to fundamentally change air defence in Romania and Europe.
Quantum Systems' 1.05 billion euro Series D lifts valuation to around 7 billion
Unmanned systems startups in focus: Advent, Airbus, Blackstone and Noteus are leading the new round. Quantum Systems plans to use the fresh capital to expand production, supply chains and AI development – and to deepen its cooperation with Airbus Defence and Space.
Unmanned systems: Stark raises 500 million euros in funding round
500 million euros are flowing to Stark: investors such as Sequoia Capital, Founders Fund and the NATO Innovation Fund are financing research and production with which the company aims to bring unmanned systems in Europe to several thousand units per month.
Drone startups: Lithuania's PDKinematics closes two-million-euro seed round
Drone startups in investors' focus: Coinvest Capital and Iron Wolf Capital lead the seed round of PDKinematics. The maker of precision guidance systems for UAVs plans to use the money to expand production – in Europe and Ukraine.
Loitering munition with impeller: Xynetic shows XLM 100 Minotaurus at DroneVation & Defence 2026
Loitering munition from Herford: for the XLM 100 Minotaurus, start-up Xynetic relies on a ducted fan, a cruising speed of 200 km/h and computer vision navigation. Together with a partner, up to 10,000 systems a year are to be possible.
AI drone Virtus: the decision remains in human hands
The German defence tech start-up Stark Defence develops AI-supported loitering munitions. Martin Rudolph, Director Business Development, talks about the AI drone Virtus, lessons from Ukraine and the role of humans on the battlefield of the future.
Loitering drone from Germany: Xynetic bets on speed and modularity
At DroneVation & Defence 2026, Xynetic co-founder and CEO Andreas Stiebner spoke about the loitering drone XLM 100 Minotaurus, its modular design, integration into existing systems and secure European supply chains.