Unmanned Systems: Air, Ground & Maritime
Unmanned systems across all domains: aerial, ground and maritime drones in defence and security.
Reconnaissance drones over the Black Sea: Russia intends to act against US drones
Defence Minister Andrei Belousov is demanding rapid responses from the General Staff to US drone flights over the Black Sea. Russian military bloggers warn against a shootdown and point to the limits at high altitude – including for reconnaissance drones.
Drone carriers: Turkey and China are close to commissioning their first ships
Ankara is preparing the “TCG Anadolu” for a squadron of Bayraktar TB3s, while a suspected drone carrier lies in a Chinese shipyard. Plus a look back at pioneer Schiebel and the question of how vulnerable MALE drones are.
Reconnaissance drone Vector: Quantum Systems supplies Romania's Ministry of Defence
Romania is receiving Vector systems from Quantum Systems via the agency Romtehnica S.A. The contract worth around 18.4 million euros runs for 36 months – according to the manufacturer, quality and price were decisive for the reconnaissance drone.
Interceptor drone wanted: Ukraine reports first successes against Russian reconnaissance drones
Air defence missiles are not to be wasted on Orlan, SuperCam or ZALA. Kyiv has therefore been looking for an interceptor drone since April – via Brave1 and a hackathon in London. The first videos of interception missions have already emerged.
Themis UGV with Agil weapon station: Milrem Robotics and Digital Bit cooperate for Romania
At the defence exhibition in Bucharest, Milrem Robotics and Romanian manufacturer Digital Bit presented their first joint result: an armed UGV combining the Themis platform with the remote-controlled Agil weapon station.
Drone army for Germany? Bundestag debates CDU/CSU motion for the first time
On 16 May, the Bundestag will debate a drone army for the first time. The CDU/CSU accuses the federal government of having done too little on drones and their defence – 21 Eurodrones by 2032 are not enough, it argues.
Unmanned systems: UK puts 5.2 billion euros into new DE&S strategy
Over the next ten years, the UK's Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) plans to invest billions in unmanned systems. The strategy draws on experience in Ukraine, which is itself to continue receiving British-made drones.
Reconnaissance drones from Ukraine: Quantum Systems opens plant for up to 1,000 Vector a year
Robert Habeck has opened Quantum Systems' new production site in Ukraine during a delegation visit. Vector reconnaissance drones and spare parts are to be built there; up to six million euros will be invested in the site.
Combat drone MQ-28 Ghost Bat: Boeing Australia builds dedicated production facility
Boeing is building a new production facility in Australia for the MQ-28 Ghost Bat combat drone. A Global Data market study expects the country to invest around 4.7 billion euros in unmanned aerial vehicles over the next decade.
FPV drones in the Ukraine war: attack on a vehicle shed and a kill in mid-air
Two videos from a single week show how versatile FPV drones have become: as a cheap weapon against tanks parked in a shed and as an unarmed interceptor against a Russian fixed-wing drone.
Mini drones for the navy: France's DGA orders 15 more SMDM from Survey Copter
With a contract worth almost 30 million euros, France is expanding its fleet of ship-based mini drones. What Survey Copter's SMDM can do and when the new systems will be handed over to the navy.
Unmanned systems as a separate service: Zelensky orders review of drone forces for Ukraine
In a decree of 6 February, President Volodymyr Zelensky ordered a review of whether unmanned systems in Ukraine should form a separate branch of the armed forces. Defence Minister Rustem Umerov supports the move.
Military drones in the Austrian Armed Forces: commercial training drones pave the way for instruction
Before the first small military drones reach the land forces, the Austrian Armed Forces (Bundesheer) are training their instructors on civilian training devices. Around 300 systems are planned initially; all battalions are to be equipped by early 2025.