Loitering munition from Stark: Cascade for long ranges, Gambit for close range

Stark is presenting two new systems today. Cascade is a tube- and canister-launched loitering munition designed to deliver precise effects over different ranges. Gambit, in turn, is designed as a portable loitering munition for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) and for close-range strike.

Both new additions to the portfolio are intended to help strengthen Europe's defence capability and rapidly scale modern effector systems.

Cascade: loitering munition from tube, canister or container

Cascade is flexible in terms of integration and deployment: single launch tubes, launch canisters integrated into vehicles and boats, and stationary or mobile modular container solutions are all possible. Depending on the configuration, the range is between 40 and 100 kilometres; the payload is up to 4.5 kilograms.

The system is designed for immediate use – it can be launched in less than a minute. When several effectors are used in a coordinated manner, high-value targets can be engaged or enemy defence systems can be overwhelmed by simultaneous approaches and thus defeated. Stark has already successfully launched Cascade from the Vanta unmanned surface vessel, demonstrating that the system can be integrated across domains.

Gambit for the forward tactical level

In parallel, Stark is showing Gambit, a lightweight, portable system for reconnaissance (ISR) and strike at the very front of the tactical level. The foldable quadcopter is ready for use within a few minutes. Gambit is available either as a reconnaissance drone or as a strike variant, which is intended to give operators the greatest possible flexibility in operations.

With a total weight of 6 kilograms, a single person is enough to carry and operate it. In the reconnaissance variant, Gambit has an endurance of 50 minutes and an operational range of up to 40 kilometres. The strike variant carries a payload of up to 2 kilograms and delivers precise effects at distances of up to 25 kilometres.

Both systems are equipped with electro-optical and infrared sensors and navigate visually, without depending on a global navigation satellite system (GNSS). A jam-resistant European data link and – in the case of Gambit – optional fibre-optic guidance are intended to ensure that they remain operational even in heavily degraded electromagnetic environments.

Johannes Schaback, Chief Technology Officer of Stark, points to the experience from Ukraine: "The war in Ukraine has shown that military superiority today does not depend on technology alone". He continues: "What matters are systems that can be produced quickly, adapted flexibly and deployed in large numbers. Cascade and Gambit were developed precisely for these requirements."

Through their connection to Stark's Minerva mission management software, Cascade and Gambit can be seamlessly integrated into multi-domain operations. Minerva allows several unmanned systems to be used in a coordinated manner as a swarm and in combined reconnaissance-strike networks. AI-supported functions for target acquisition, target tracking and mission management form the basis for networked, scalable and highly automated use of unmanned systems.