Unmanned Systems Technology
Technical fundamentals, components and innovation: autonomous navigation, sensors, datalinks and propulsion of unmanned systems.
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.
Ground drones with Steyr power: Steyr Motors engine to drive RTC's Cornus UGV
After unmanned surface vessels, Steyr Motors is opening up another field: the Cornus UGV from Slovenian manufacturer RTC is getting an engine from Steyr. The company sees significant growth potential in the ground drones segment.
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.
MQ-9B with Loyal Eye: Saab and General Atomics fly unmanned early warning solution for the first time
First flight in Southern California: Saab's Loyal Eye radar sensor has taken off on an MQ-9B. A test campaign lasting several months now follows, which is to culminate in a comprehensive capability demonstration later in the year.
Loitering munition Lumberjack: Northrop Grumman demonstrates autonomy at “Operation Lethal Eagle”
Mission control via the Maven Smart System, AI-enabled targeting from Palantir, satellite data link: at an exercise of the US 101st Airborne Division, Northrop Grumman demonstrated its Lumberjack Group 3 loitering munition.
AI situational picture from Styria: Drone Corps invests more than three million euros in Lagebild.one
More than three million euros are going into Lagebild.one, the Joanneum Research spin-off. With the money from Drone Corps, the AI situational picture for emergency and security organisations is to reach market maturity and gain a foothold in the DACH region.
Drone swarm with AI: Stark brings Virtus and Minerva to Bundeswehr exercise
Reconnaissance drones, command software and loitering munitions in one network: Stark took part with Virtus and Minerva in further Bundeswehr tests of the AI-supported drone swarm. An operational capability is to be in place by 2027.
Drone battery with over 500 Wh/kg: Sion Power unveils Licerion cells for military systems
Longer flight time, more payload, less weight: with two lithium-metal Licerion cells, Sion Power is targeting unmanned military systems. One cell is intended for loitering munitions, the other as a rechargeable drone battery for long 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.
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.
Drone industry: MTU Aero Engines acquires Cologne propulsion specialist Aero Design Works
By buying Aero Design Works GmbH, engine manufacturer MTU is entering the drone industry and will offer propulsion for drones and guided missiles. The Cologne gas turbine maker remains legally independent; the purchase price is undisclosed.
Unmanned systems networked: Quantum Systems and Destinus link reconnaissance and effectors via Mosaic UXS
Networking reconnaissance and effects for unmanned systems even over long distances, without taking the decision out of human hands: that is the goal of the strategic partnership Quantum Systems and Destinus have entered into.