Unmanned Systems News
The latest news on unmanned systems, counter-UAS and the defence industry, from Europe and around the world.
Counter-UAS from Brandenburg: Onberg Autonomous Systems focuses on integrated systems at ILA 2026
Sensors, situational picture, command & control and autonomous air and ground systems in one network: the joint venture of HD Advanced Technologies and Ondas presents its holistic counter-UAS approach for critical infrastructure in Berlin.
Quantum Systems enters medium-sized air platforms with Pulse P19 – premiere at ILA Berlin 2026
In the presence of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Quantum Systems is showing its first optionally manned aircraft. Pulse P19 is the manufacturer's answer to the vulnerability of classic MALE and LALE drones in current conflicts.
Loitering munition from Stark: Cascade for long ranges, Gambit for close range
Stark is launching two loitering munition variants at once: a tube- and canister-launched system with a range of up to 100 kilometres and a portable 6-kilogram quadcopter. Both are linked to the Minerva mission management software.
Ground drones for Romania: Hanwha and Milrem Robotics join forces in UGV programme
At BSDA 2026 in Bucharest, Hanwha Aerospace, Hanwha Aerospace Romania and Milrem Robotics signed a trilateral agreement: wheeled and tracked ground drones are to be combined, and production and technology transfer brought to Romania.
Ground drones for Ukraine: Milrem Robotics and VDL Defentec start Themis production in Born
A new final assembly line for the Themis UGV is running in the Netherlands. The first vehicles built there went to the Dutch government, which is passing them on to Ukraine – the start of more than 100 ground drones financed by the Netherlands.
Drone detection by sound: Joanneum Research shows JR-IcoDome32 microphone array
A hemisphere with 32 microphones, backed by beamforming and AI: at DroneVation & Defence 2026, the Graz-based institute is showing a passive experimental system for drone detection. The later product is to be smaller, more economical and also usable on the move.
FPV drones with record range: Ukrainian Phoenix unit hits targets more than 100 kilometres away
Two days, two records: at the end of May, pilots of the “Phoenix” border guard unit from Luhansk Oblast flew FPV drones 102 and 103 kilometres. In their own assessment, the limit has not yet been reached.
Drone Dominance Program: Pentagon selects eleven suppliers for "Gauntlet 2"
Under the Drone Dominance Program, around 300,000 low-cost FPV attack drones are to go to the US armed forces by 2027. After the first test round with 25 suppliers, eleven companies remain – with larger quantities and falling prices.
Drone attack on St. Petersburg: Ukraine hits oil terminal and Kronstadt as forum opens
Of all days, a Ukrainian drone attack struck St. Petersburg and Leningrad Oblast at the opening of the SPIEF-26 economic forum. The corvette "Boikiy" was also hit – according to Russian sources, by two types of drone.
Drone production at the front: how Nordyn is changing war logistics with mobile micro-factories
Nordyn is moving drone production, including assembly and maintenance, into mobile micro-factories on vehicles and trailers. Head of engineering Vitalii Pogrebniak explains why distributed units are harder to hit – and where the real bottleneck lies.
Defence tech from Munich: ARX Robotics announces next growth phase and new brand
A new headquarters with production in Munich, an office in Berlin and twice as many employees by the end of 2026: defence tech provider ARX Robotics is expanding and presenting a new global brand identity.
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.
Counter-drone for the Pentagon: Droneshield wins Joint Interagency Task Force 401 contract
EUR 21.4 million over five years: Droneshield will supply mobile and fixed counter-drone solutions for the Joint Interagency Task Force 401 and must also procure and install third-party systems.