Military drones in the mountains: Drone Passion shows reconnaissance and cargo transport at NATO MW COE

Military drones in the mountains were the focus when the NATO Mountain Warfare Centre of Excellence (MW COE) in Slovenia celebrated its tenth anniversary this week. Among those present was the Austrian company EW Drone Passion GmbH, which has been working closely with the centre for more than a year. At the combined event – first a panel discussion on the future of mountain warfare with a focus on new technologies, followed by a practical part – the company presented its concepts and operational experience.

Drone Passion demonstrated the potential of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in alpine terrain in the practical part of the exercise, in which it provided air support. A reconnaissance drone with a first-person view (FPV) delivered a continuous situational picture, while a cargo drone transported loads at the same time. A current company release calls particularly demanding the “close coordination with a helicopter to ensure smooth, simultaneous air operations” – reconnaissance and transport were to run without interruption.

Military drones and helicopters in joint air operations

The press release states: “The execution was characterised by precise planning, a clear division of tasks and efficient communication”. Thanks to automated processes, the operation was almost self-sufficient and required minimal personnel. The range and payload of helicopters, the flexibility and responsiveness of modern drones – Drone Passion was thus able to combine the strengths of both aircraft types optimally.

Because the company brings long experience in mountain operations, the result was a “sequence that was technically precise, tactically well thought out and operationally coherent”, according to Drone Passion. The feedback was also very positive: according to Drone Passion, the director of the NATO MW COE, the Chief of Staff and the guests present “were impressed by the efficiency, the operational self-sufficiency and the low personnel requirement”. In the mountains especially, these are decisive factors.

The company sums up its aim of bringing together innovation and practical experience in the motto “Willing is not enough — you must do it”. In future, too, Drone Passion intends to support the NATO MW COE with its know-how in the further development of UAS operations in the mountains and “thereby contribute to strengthening operational capability in demanding terrain”.