Unmanned Systems News
The latest news on unmanned systems, counter-UAS and the defence industry, from Europe and around the world.
Counter-UAS for public authorities: Securiton offers scalable drone defence
Securiton Deutschland offers a command-and-control platform for multi-layered counter-UAS solutions. Christoph Süß explains how the scalable system detects and defeats drones, from public authorities and major events to military use.
Air defence under pressure: can saturation attacks still be contained?
THAAD, Patriot, interceptor drones: everywhere, air defence is reaching the limits of its stocks, while Russia relies on mass with cheap Molniya drones. It remains open whether defenders can ever reverse the asymmetry of numbers and cost.
USV: gunboats without a crew
Peter Symonds de Montfort, founder of Sigmund Naval & Marine Ltd, designs unmanned surface vessels (USVs) for maritime operations. The first USV model is soon to be launched. An interview on design, armament and missions.
Drone technology from Lviv: Sinelink, Ukraine’s hidden AI drone radio network
A briefcase on the smallest stand at the Drone Autonomy Symposium holds drone technology already built into almost all the AI drones on display: Sine Engineering’s Sinelink networks drones, navigates without GPS and enables group operations from one ground station.
AI drones: how Ukraine is driving artificial intelligence forward in the drone war
More drones than pilots, crowded airspace over the front and the question of friend or foe: for Kyrylo Budanov and Serhii “Flash” Beskrestnov, the next step leads via AI drones. What the modules can do and who decides on their success.
Camcopter S-100 for the Hellenic Navy: Schiebel completes acceptance tests of the first two systems
In February the contract for four systems for Greece’s new FDI frigates was signed; now the first two Camcopter S-100 have passed acceptance at the Kotroni helicopter base. This clears the way for operational use.
Laser counter-drone defence: Inleap Photonics and Stark enter a strategic partnership
At Hannover Messe 2026, the start-up Inleap Photonics and loitering munition manufacturer Stark announced their cooperation. Inleap Fastlight Shield is to be integrated into Stark’s unmanned systems; joint counter-drone solutions are planned in the long term.
Drone warfare: Pentagon plans to increase the Defense Autonomous Warfare Group budget 242-fold
Pete Hegseth’s department wants to fund around 200,000 autonomous systems with the new drone warfare budget. David Petraeus warns, however: without new doctrine, training and forms of command, the investment will remain expensive inventory.
Counter-drone systems from Brandenburg an der Havel: joint venture Onberg Autonomous Systems begins operations
Heidelberg subsidiary HDAT and Ondas Autonomous Systems aim to create a one-stop shop for autonomous counter-drone defence with Onberg – from development to series production. The main target group is KRITIS operators; marketing starts in Germany and Ukraine.
Anti-drone ammunition for assault rifles: CSG subsidiary Fiocchi presents new cartridge
Instead of a shotgun or a special system, the standard rifle is enough: the anti-drone ammunition from Fiocchi, part of the Czechoslovak Group (CSG), relies on several tungsten balls per cartridge. It was tested with the Italian armed forces; further calibres are planned.
Hungary's defence minister: Péter Magyar picks former Chief of the General Staff Ruszin-Szendi
Péter Magyar has presented the first seven ministers of his future government; Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi is earmarked as Hungary's defence minister. The lieutenant general was dismissed as Chief of the General Staff in 2023 – the reasons remain disputed to this day.
Loitering munition “Hornet”: how the Marsianer-2 over Donetsk is changing the rules of the game in Ukraine
Behind the AI-controlled drone that Russia fears as the “Marsianer-2” (“Martian-2”) is the start-up White Stork of former Google CEO Eric Schmidt. Russian analyses paint a detailed picture of the loitering munition – from GPS-free navigation to its disguised radio link.
Reconnaissance drones for the US Army: Quantum Systems wins Vector AI contract
The contract under which the US Army is ordering the Vector AI system from Quantum Systems is worth around 14.1 million euros. The reconnaissance drones are to strengthen brigades and provide insights for the future MRR programme.