Unmanned Systems News
The latest news on unmanned systems, counter-UAS and the defence industry, from Europe and around the world.
Scramble in the Netherlands: F-35s launched over drone without transponder
With no transponder signal and no radio contact, an unknown object was moving within the Dutch area of responsibility – Nieuw Milligen ordered a scramble. What the two F-35s found was a drone, which soon left the airspace again.
Drone industry: Leonardo and Baykar to manufacture in Italy through LBA Systems
The TB2, TB3, Akinci and Kizilelma are to be built at three Italian sites. What the LBA Systems joint venture plans for the drone industry in Europe – and why certification for civil airspace remains the biggest hurdle.
Unmanned ground vehicle Ripsaw M3: Sweden becomes Textron Systems’ first European customer
For the first time, a European country is opting for the Ripsaw M3 unmanned combat vehicle. The unmanned ground vehicle from Howe & Howe features a hybrid drive, an open system architecture and an operating range of more than 290 kilometres.
Combat drone Kizilelma: Baykar UCAV engages F-16 beyond visual range in test
Off Sinop, the Turkish stealth combat drone Bayraktar Kizilelma engaged a jet beyond visual range with a Gökdogan missile. What role the UCAV could play in the GCAP programme in future – and what remains open about the test.
Lars Immisch leaves the Hensoldt Executive Board for health reasons
People and appointments at Hensoldt: Lars Immisch leaves the Executive Board at the turn of the year 2025/2026. A successor has already been determined and takes over in the new year; until then, the board and the HR leadership team will jointly ensure continuity in human resources.
Loitering munition: NATO customer orders several hundred Hero systems from Rheinmetall
An order in the low three-digit million range, deliveries from early 2026, production in Italy: Rheinmetall is supplying Hero loitering munitions to an unnamed NATO state. An overview of the order and the Hero family.
Counter-drone: Terma acquires British C-UAS specialist OSL Technology
With the acquisition of OSL Technology, Danish group Terma gains expertise from civil airspace surveillance. The aim is an open ecosystem for counter-drone defence and the protection of critical infrastructure – civil and military.
Unmanned ground vehicles: Ukrainian General Staff turns to robotic strongpoints for defence
Remote-controlled weapon modules are to relieve Ukrainian infantry. How a Droid TW 12.7 held a crossroads for a month and a half – and why unmanned ground vehicles still depend on human operators.
Drone detection: Netherlands orders 100 radars from Robin Radar in urgent procurement
Following drone sightings over Volkel and Eindhoven, the Netherlands armed forces are stepping up the pace: 100 radar systems for drone detection are coming from Robin Radar, and the first delivery has already arrived.
Counter-drone: Arquus develops self-protection for the French Army with Hornet T1 turret
With Hornet Air Guard, the French Army is to quickly gain its own counter-drone capability for self-defence. Arquus and the DGA are relying on proven building blocks from the Scorpion programme and the T1 turret of the Griffon and Serval.
Drone attack on Taganrog: Ukraine destroys Russia’s A-100LL flying laboratory and the A-60
The two hits matter little for the course of the war, but possibly a great deal for Russia’s early warning programme: the drone attack on the Beriev site in Taganrog destroyed the only known A-100 test aircraft.
Unmanned ground vehicle Mission Master SP: US Marines train with Rheinmetall UGV on Okinawa
No longer a demonstrator but platoon equipment: at Camp Schwab, US Marines are integrating the Mission Master SP unmanned ground vehicle into exercises for resupply, casualty evacuation and covert movement.
Counter-UAS: the Netherlands invests billions in Skyranger and more
The Netherlands is putting between 1 and 2.5 billion euros into counter-UAS, while the navy is budgeting 250 million to 1 billion euros for a maritime system. Interim solutions are to bridge the gap until the Skyranger 30 arrives in 2028.