Loitering munition with impeller: Xynetic shows XLM 100 Minotaurus at DroneVation & Defence 2026

Higher speed, greater range, more scalability – these keywords describe a modern loitering munition on the constantly changing battlefield of the 21st century. In Herford, North Rhine-Westphalia, the German start-up Xynetic develops and manufactures unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) with impeller propulsion. The XLM 100 Minotaurus kamikaze drone was on show at DroneVation & Defence 2026 in Vienna, where Managing Director Andreas Stiebner provided information.

What sets the XLM 100 Minotaurus apart is its impeller propulsion. Instead of externally mounted propellers as on conventional drones, Xynetic uses a so-called ducted fan, also known as an electric ducted fan (EDF). The propulsion unit sits entirely in the tail of the aircraft.

Andreas Stiebner cites several advantages: the aircraft is quieter, the Doppler signature typical of conventional propellers is reduced, and because no external rotors interfere with the launch, it can be fired from launch tubes or launcher systems. The wings are folded and only deploy after ejection.

Loitering munition built on a modular principle

The system was deliberately designed to be modular. The platform currently carries up to five kilograms of payload. This enables different mission profiles: interception missions with various sensors, classic loitering munition tasks, electronic warfare applications or the transport of special payloads. The UAV can also be recovered by parachute.

Xynetic also places great emphasis on speed. Many comparable systems travel at around 120 to 130 kilometres per hour, whereas the company states a cruising speed of about 200 kilometres per hour for the Minotaurus. When the system folds its wings during the terminal approach, it is to accelerate in a dive to up to 500 kilometres per hour. According to Managing Director Stiebner, this leaves the adversary less time to react and makes it harder for other drones or air defence systems to intercept it.

Modern technologies are also used for navigation. The autopilot determines its position from camera images using a so-called computer vision method. This allows the UAV to hold its course even when the GPS signal is jammed. In the long term, Xynetic aims for the terminal approach to the target to work entirely without a data link.

In future, the XLC Typhon container module is to complement the system. The multiple launcher holds twelve to sixteen XLM 100 systems and can remain autonomously in the area of operations for extended periods. This is intended to allow larger combat sectors to be monitored without friendly forces having to be permanently on site.

That leaves partnerships and cooperation. Managing Director Stiebner said:

We are currently cooperating with universities and other companies, each of which contributes its capabilities, and particularly when it comes to scalability, we have a partner, Avanco Composites GmbH— Andreas Stiebner, Managing Director, Xynetic

Avanco Composites specialises in the development, manufacture and finishing of lightweight products made of fibre-reinforced plastics. Together with this partner, Xynetic considers itself capable of producing up to 10,000 Minotaurus systems a year. The aim is a system that comes to market both technologically capable and economically viable.