Unmanned Systems News
The latest news on unmanned systems, counter-UAS and the defence industry, from Europe and around the world.
FPV drones: “The battlefield will change”
Austrian Armed Forces officer candidate Moritz Böhm examined the military use of FPV drones in his bachelor's thesis. He explains his key findings, the challenges in procurement and training, and the role of drones on the future battlefield.
Fibre-optic drones in the drone war: video shows a field covered in cables in eastern Ukraine
Filmed from a Ukrainian Mi-24 attack helicopter, a video shows a frontline field full of glittering fibre-optic cables. They come from fibre-optic drones, whose control link can be neither located nor electronically jammed.
Military drones from China: KZ-2 from the Chinese Academy of Sciences appears in Changchun
Only a few weeks after the victory parade in Beijing, the KZ-2 reveals another previously unknown type of Chinese military drone. Its purpose and development status are unclear – but its two engines are a novelty.
Combat drone CA-1 Europa: Helsing unveils autonomous combat aircraft at Grob Aircraft in Tussenhausen
With the CA-1 Europa, Helsing presents a full-size combat drone that combines the Centaur AI pilot with Grob Aircraft's aircraft-building expertise. The jet is to fly in series-ready form in four years.
Unmanned systems at Schiebel: “All these systems also serve civilian tasks”
At “DroneVation & Defence 2025” in Vienna, Austrian company Schiebel presents its latest developments in unmanned systems. Founded in 1951, it is one of the leading manufacturers of unmanned aircraft systems and is known above all for the Camcopter S-100.
Drone collision avoidance at Airlabs Austria: “Existing systems are not sufficient”
Airlabs Austria is the national innovation lab for unmanned aircraft systems. At “DroneVation & Defence 2025” we spoke with technical product manager Robin Deutsch about drone collision avoidance, icing forecasts and other current projects.
Counter-UAS from Czechia: LLP Holding shows JWI-4000 UAV interceptor at DSEI
Up to 4,000 metres altitude, 300 km/h top speed and a directional fragmentation warhead: with the JWI-4000, LLP Holding brings a counter-UAS building block to London. The manufacturer did not give dimensions.
Counter-UAS at Saab: from Giraffe 1X to Nimbrix, Loke and RBS 70 NG
Cheap drones, expensive defences: Giraffe 1X, the Nimbrix missile and the Loke concept, realised in 84 days, show how Saab wants to make counter-UAS affordable. According to Per Järbur, there is no perfect system.
Counter-drone defence on the EU's eastern border: Commissioner Kubilius pushes ahead with “drone wall”
After at least 19 Russian drones entered Poland, EU Commissioner Andrius Kubilius wants to expand counter-drone defence in the east quickly. Costs remain open, and Ukraine is to contribute its experience.
Counter-drone protection for trucks: Volvo Defense and Nordic Air Defence develop VIPRO pod
A compact pod is to protect military trucks against attacks from the air: with VIPRO, Volvo Defense and start-up Nordic Air Defence bring counter-drone capability to vehicles. Market launch is planned for 2026.
Ground drone Havoc 8×8: Milrem Robotics shows armed Robotic Combat Vehicle at DSEI
Kongsberg turret, 30-millimetre cannon and missiles from Frankenburg Technologies: the Havoc ground drone celebrated its European premiere at DSEI 2025. Experience with the Themis in Ukraine has fed into its design.
Counter-drone defence and the missile dilemma: why expensive interceptors cannot stop the drone flood
An AIM-120C-7 fragment in a Polish tomato field stands for a cost problem in counter-drone defence: hundreds of drones a day against a few million-euro missiles. Interceptor drones and APKWS are seen as ways out – and Austria?
Military drone for electronic warfare: Thales and Autonomous Devices show EW-UAS1 at DSEI
Jamming, deception, passive surveillance: the EW-UAS1 military drone is to give naval and land forces a flying platform for electronic warfare – initially intended to protect warships against anti-ship missiles.