Unmanned Systems: Air, Ground & Maritime
Unmanned systems across all domains: aerial, ground and maritime drones in defence and security.
UGV Max1 from Romania intercepts drones – Maximus Labs stays silent on where it is deployed
Maximus Labs shows its Max1 UGV in a video and speaks of a deployment in an active war zone. Which army uses the tracked platform, and where, remains open – as do contracts and unit numbers.
Reconnaissance drones for US Special Operations Command: Tekever reports completion
Validation and acceptance tests are complete, and Tekever's reconnaissance drones are now in service with USSOCOM. The Lisbon-based manufacturer does not name the quantity, model or contract value – much points to the AR3.
Interceptor drone Blade: Ukrainian Ministry of Defence approves procurement from Phantom Defense
With its inclusion in the procurement plan, the way is clear for the Blade interceptor drone to reach the Ukrainian armed forces. This does not yet mean ordered quantities or large deliveries – and the drone is not meant to work on its own anyway.
Reconnaissance drone AR5: British Army orders from Tekever for up to £400 million
Under Project CORVUS, the British Army is acquiring the AR5 from Portuguese manufacturer Tekever. The contract for the reconnaissance drone is worth up to £400 million; production will mainly take place in Swindon, and introduction is to begin in 2026.
Jet drone Nightshade Mk-2: Apollyon Dynamics from Hyderabad publishes first images
A real fuselage instead of computer graphics: Indian start-up Apollyon Dynamics offers a first look at its Nightshade Mk-2 jet drone. Technical data are still missing, and the date of the first flight is also open.
Drone pilots from Ukraine inflict heavy losses on US armoured brigade in major exercise at Hohenfels
During “Combined Resolve 26-07”, around 70 per cent of a US armoured brigade's simulated losses in the first three days were caused by Ukrainian drone pilots. The brigade adapted its tactics and in the end attacked with more than 700 drones of its own.
Interceptor drone Skyron set to benefit: Quantum Systems flies Apex Recordhunter at 777 km/h
On a military training area in central Germany, the Apex Recordhunter breaks 777 km/h, but the flight in the opposite direction fails. For Quantum Systems, more than a world record is at stake: the know-how is to flow into a faster interceptor drone.
Drone manufacturer Tekever opens subsidiary in Munich – Bundeswehr tests first drone
Munich becomes the home of Tekever Germany. At the same time, the Bundeswehr is evaluating a system from the Portuguese drone manufacturer – a heavy-lift drone for autonomous logistics and support tasks.
V-BAT for Taiwan: Coast Guard takes delivery of first drones from Shield AI
Twelve vertical take-off V-BAT are set to strengthen maritime surveillance around Taiwan. The first Shield AI systems have been handed over, and training and local maintenance are being set up together with AIDC.
Drone ecosystem: first Drohnenforum Schweiz in Thun calls for more speed and less bureaucracy
How can technological innovation be turned into military capability faster? The first Drohnenforum Schweiz in Thun focused on building a drone ecosystem, on new models of cooperation – and on blunt words from Chief of the Armed Forces Roos and Armaments Chief Loher.
Defence procurement: Swiss Armaments Chief Urs Loher calls for a rethink – “too slow along the entire chain”
Tactics change within weeks, procurement programmes take years: at the first Sicherheitsforum Drohnen Schweiz in Thun, Armaments Chief Urs Loher explained why defence procurement needs new models – and what role the “Eiger” project is to play.
Swiss Armed Forces: Lieutenant General Roos calls for a radical rethink – “enough books written”
Billions for drones, a new drone battalion – and still not enough: at the first Sicherheitsforum Drohnen Schweiz in Thun, Lieutenant General Benedikt Roos called on the Swiss Armed Forces to show less perfectionism, less bureaucracy and more speed.
Unmanned ground vehicles: Ukraine's Tencore unveils its own UGV ecosystem with four platforms
From logistics and casualty evacuation to firefighting: Ukrainian company Tencore is combining four platforms for unmanned ground vehicles in a single system – aiming to simplify operations, maintenance and the integration of additional equipment.