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04 Dec 25. AeroVironment, Inc. (“AV”) (NASDAQ: AVAV), a global leader in all-domain defense systems, today announced the integration of its Visual Navigation System (VNS) kit with the Puma™ Long Endurance (LE) small unmanned aircraft system (SUAS), delivering Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS)-denied navigation capability to ensure mission success. Using a suite of downward-facing sensors, cameras and onboard computing, the VNS kit performs Visual Inertial Odometry (VIO) to capture and analyze terrain imagery, estimating true aircraft position in real time. First introduced in 2022 for the Puma 2 AE and Puma 3 AE, the VNS kit uses advanced computer vision and onboard processing to deliver precise, GNSS-independent navigation, and its integration into Puma LE now extends this capability across the full Puma family for greater flexibility and resilience in degraded or denied environments.
“Assured navigation is critical to the mission, especially as GNSS becomes an increasingly vulnerable resource,” said Jason Hendrix, Vice President of Small Uncrewed Systems for AV. “By fusing visual and inertial data in real time, the system enables uninterrupted flight paths, accurate geolocation, and mission continuity in unreliable GNSS regions.”
Using a suite of downward-facing sensors, cameras and onboard computing, the VNS kit performs Visual Inertial Odometry (VIO) to capture and analyze terrain imagery, estimating true aircraft position in real time. The system fuses continuous visual data from the cameras with motion inputs from onboard inertial sensors to calculate precise position, velocity, and orientation—allowing the aircraft to know where it is and where it is going when GNSS is not available. It automatically transitions between GNSS-enabled and GNSS-denied modes with zero pilot input, ensuring uninterrupted mission continuity in contested environments. In September, AV announced several upgrades to the Puma LE platform that include the integration of a Laser Target Designator and the release of the Universal Gimbal Kit, enhancements that evolve Puma LE beyond ISR into a cutting-edge precision-engagement system.
“Every upgrade to Puma LE, including the addition of the VNS kit and our new laser designator and gimbal capabilities, is driven by one goal: giving the warfighter greater confidence, flexibility, and capability,” said Trace Stevenson, President of Autonomous Systems at AV. “These recent releases are a great example of AV constantly evolving our platforms to ensure they are at the forefront of technology and providing best in class capability to the warfighter.”
The VNS Kit is designed as an add-on option for new Puma 3 AE or Puma LE system orders and as a retrofit kit allowing existing Puma 2 AE, Puma 3 AE, and Puma LE customers to upgrade fielded systems. The compact two-piece add on installs easily into existing Pumas with minimal impact on performance and fits within the standard Puma cases for efficient mission packout. The standard Puma LE system weighs just 23.8 pounds and offers 6.5 hours of endurance, a 60-kilometer range, is inaudible at 500 feet and features tool-free payload swaps for seamless transitions between intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), targeting, and other mission sets.
About AV
AV (NASDAQ: AVAV) is a defense technology leader delivering integrated capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. The Company develops and deploys autonomous systems, loitering munitions, counter-UAS technologies, space-based platforms, directed energy systems, and cyber and electronic warfare capabilities—built to meet the mission needs of today’s warfighter and tomorrow’s conflicts. At the core of these technologies lies AV_Halo, a modular, mission-ready suite of AI-powered software tools that empowers warfighters and enables full-battlefield dominance: detect, decide, deliver. With a national manufacturing footprint and a deep innovation pipeline, AV delivers proven systems and future-defining capabilities at speed, scale, and operational relevance. For more information, visit www.avinc.com. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
04 Dec 25. US Launches One-Way-Attack Drone Force in the Middle East. On Dec. 3, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced a new task force for the U.S. military’s first one-way-attack drone squadron based in the Middle East. CENTCOM launched Task Force Scorpion Strike (TFSS) four months after the Secretary of War directed acceleration of the acquisition and fielding of affordable drone technology. TFSS is designed to quickly deliver low cost and effective drone capabilities into the hands of warfighters. The new task force has already formed a squadron of Low-cost Unmanned Combat Attack System (LUCAS) drones currently based in the Middle East. LUCAS drones deployed by CENTCOM have an extensive range and are designed to operate autonomously. They can be launched with different mechanisms to include catapults, rocket-assisted takeoff, and mobile ground and vehicle systems.
“This new task force sets the conditions for using innovation as a deterrent,” said Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander. “Equipping our skilled warfighters faster with cutting-edge drone capabilities showcases U.S. military innovation and strength, which deters bad actors.”
In September, CENTCOM launched the Rapid Employment Joint Task Force (REJTF) led by its chief technology officer to fast-track processes for outfitting deployed forces with emerging capabilities.
The joint task force is coordinating innovation efforts among Service components in three focus areas:
- Capability
- Software, and
- Tech Diplomacy
TFSS’s efforts to build the one-way-attack drone squadron are led by personnel from Special Operations Command Central and align with REJTF’s capability focus area. (Source: UAS VISION/U.S. Central Command)
03 Dec 25. Archer And Karem Aircraft Announce Exclusive Collaboration To Utilize Military-Grade Rotor Technology On Archer’s Next-Generation Dual-Use VTOL Aircraft.
- Integral to Archer’s strategic partnership with Anduril is the goal of delivering an autonomous, hybrid propulsion, vertical take-off and landing aircraft that can help upgrade the legacy vertical lift technology that is still in use by the military today
- The strategic alliance with Karem gives Archer exclusive access to the key aspects of Karem’s pioneering tiltrotor technology, which has been validated by the U.S. Army, to accelerate Archer’s development of a versatile dual-use aircraft platform
- This new alliance, coupled with Archer’s acquisitions of Overair’s and Lilium’s patented technology, makes Archer uniquely positioned to bring to market a next-generation aircraft that can be capable of rapidly moving through contested airspace with a low thermal and low acoustic signature
- Karem Aircraft, founded in 2004, is an innovative developer of aerospace technology, known for Abe Karem’s pioneering work that created the modern drone, and for the company’s continued innovation in rotorcraft
Archer Aviation Inc. (NYSE: ACHR) today announced an exclusive collaboration with Karem Aircraft, giving Archer access to the key aspects of Karem’s advanced, military-grade rotor and tiltrotor technologies for integration into Archer’s next-generation autonomous, hybrid-propulsion VTOL aircraft. The collaboration marks a significant addition to Archer’s strategy as the company accelerates development of its dual-use vertical lift platform, designed to upgrade certain legacy systems still in service across the U.S. and allied militaries. Archer’s objective is to deliver a multi-mission aircraft that combines modern autonomy, long-range hybrid-electric propulsion, and advanced aeromechanics capable of addressing the demands of both commercial and military operations. With exclusive access to Karem’s validated tiltrotor technology, plus the intellectual property portfolios recently acquired from Overair and Lilium, Archer is bringing together what it believes to be one of the most advanced technology stacks in next-generation VTOL aviation. These combined assets are expected to enable an aircraft with the speed, range, payload, and low thermal and acoustic signatures necessary for missions across contested airspace.
“As we build the next generation of dual-use vertical lift aircraft, partnering with the pioneers who have shaped modern rotorcraft is essential,” said Adam Goldstein, Archer Founder and CEO. “Karem’s military-grade rotor systems are among the most advanced Army-validated technologies in the world. Integrating them into our next-gen hybrid VTOL platform positions Archer to move faster and deliver capabilities that legacy systems simply can’t match. This collaboration strengthens our dual-use strategy and accelerates our path toward fielding an aircraft built for the contested environments of tomorrow.”
“Karem Aircraft has always focused on delivering transformational rotor and VTOL technologies to serve the most demanding military and commercial missions,” Abe Karem, founder of Karem Aircraft, commented. “Archer’s vision for a dual-use, hybrid VTOL platform aligns perfectly with our belief that the next leap in vertical lift requires both advanced aeromechanics and modern autonomy. We’re excited to collaborate with Archer as they look to bring to market the next generation of tiltrotor capability.”
This collaboration with Karem follows Archer’s recently announced agreement to supply its proprietary electric powertrain to Anduril and EDGE Group for their new Omen Autonomous Air Vehicle, a milestone that marked the first time Archer has made its vertically integrated, aviation grade powertrain available to a third party. That announcement, combined with today’s news, underscores Archer’s accelerating expansion into the dual-use and hybrid VTOL space, leveraging its core technologies across both commercial and defense programs to help drive the next generation of vertical lift capabilities. (Source: ASD Network)
02 Dec 25. Leonardo’s Proteus passes ground tests. Proteus may be used for airborne surveillance, search and rescue, logistics resupply, weapon delivery, and intelligence gathering. The Royal Navy’s crewless helicopter, Proteus, is nearing its first flight following a period of ground-based trials at Leonardo’s facility in Yeovil, UK. The trials included checks on the engines, intricate systems, and rotor blades. Proteus, developed by Leonardo under a £60m ($80m) programme, involved designing and manufacturing the Proteus Technology Demonstrator in less than two and a half years. The latest ‘ground running’ trial was conducted in the presence of senior officers and experts from the Ministry of Defence (MoD). Royal Navy’s develop directorate, maritime aviation and carrier strike head captain David Gillett said: “It’s been a huge pleasure to work with Leonardo and across Defence, as one team, to deliver Proteus. It combines cutting-edge technology, the experience of recent conflicts and has enormous potential to shape the Royal Navy’s future hybrid air wing.” Leonardo designed Proteus to support a range of missions. The helicopter features a payload bay capable of carrying up to one tonne of equipment. It may be used for airborne surveillance, search and rescue, logistics resupply, weapon delivery, or intelligence gathering. Initial trials are focusing on anti-submarine warfare tasks. In this context, the Proteus demonstrator is programmed to patrol designated maritime areas using information from allied naval assets and detection networks to identify hostile submarines. The aircraft deploys sonobuoy listening devices to track acoustic signals from underwater threats and can relay its findings back to mission commanders. The Royal Navy aims to use autonomous helicopters like Proteus to extend airborne operations over wider areas for longer durations while reducing demands on aircrew. This development marks an early stage toward deploying autonomous vertical take-off and landing aircraft in this weight class. The aircraft, similar in size to a conventional helicopter, is considered one of the first full-sized autonomous helicopters in the world.
Leonardo Helicopters UK managing director Nigel Colman said: “Proteus is equipped with cutting-edge onboard software capabilities, carrying a suite of sensors and systems that allow it to sense its environment, make decisions and act accordingly. All of this processing is conducted onboard the aircraft, while operating in the most extreme environments, including high sea states and strong winds – just where the Royal Navy needs this kind of capability.”
In September 2025, the UK Royal Navy executed a supply transfer between its warships using a British-manufactured Malloy T-150 quadcopter for the first time, during a 2025 Indo-Pacific mission. (Source: naval-technology.com)
03 Dec 25. Daher Flies its EyePulse MALE Drone. Daher has successfully completed the flight demonstration of EyePulse, a Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) drone prototype presented to the French Defense Procurement Agency (DGA) as part of a call for projects.
This successful first flight, performed from the company’s Tarbes, France facility, is a key milestone that confirms the Daher Group’s ability to act quickly and respond to the needs of defense stakeholders.
By developing a MALE drone demonstrator prototype in less than six months – in partnership with Thales – Daher has fulfilled its commitments and confirmed its ability to meet the DGA’s objective of rapidly strengthening drone capabilities for the French armed forces and for export.
A fully controlled demonstration
The demonstration consisted of an automated flight sequence, including an autonomous landing phase.
Daher – the project architect and leader – integrated Thales’ ScaleFlyt avionics system into an existing platform, and enabled a fully autonomous flight phase after activation from the ground by Alexandre Lahousse, Senior General Engineer of Armament – Exceptional Class (IGCEA), who is the DGA’s Deputy Director General. He was accompanied by a DGA delegation during the demonstration.
As Daher’s technology partner, Thales developed the remote piloting control system, providing the ground-based station with ground-to-air command and control data link. This integration is based on a technology-agnostic control principle that is interoperable with different systems and complements the advanced technology of Daher’s EyePulse platform, which is capable of automatic and autonomous flight.
The collaborative, self-reliant EyePulse project highlighted the complementary expertise of both companies.
Civilian innovation at the service of the armed forces
Based on certified and proven technologies in the civil sector, this flight illustrates Daher’s experience, agility, and the efficiency of its industrial capabilities. The Group leveraged its aircraft manufacturing know-how – as well as its civil aviation competencies, approvals, and authorizations – to develop EyePulse. Daher’s Tarbes-based Fly’in technology center applied its capabilities in rapid prototyping, engineering, artificial intelligence and embedded systems testing to achieve the rapid integration of Thales technology into the MALE demonstrator.
Preparing for tomorrow’s operational doctrines
With its modular design and interoperable technologies, the EyePulse drone will be able to evolve in meeting the needs of armed forces and adapt to different specifications, while aligning with continuously evolving operational doctrines.
According to Nicolas Chabbert, CEO of the Daher Group’s Daher Aircraft division: « As a partner of the armed forces for more than 30 years, Daher is leveraging its innovation capabilities and dual-use industrial expertise to fully contribute to the transformation of France’s defense capabilities. We are mobilizing our skills and resources to prepare for the series production of drones. This EyePulse flight demonstration confirms the relevance of our approach and our ability to scale up production.«
For IGCEA Lahousse: « The speed at which Daher implemented this demonstration illustrates the company’s agility. Its ability to use certified and proven technological building blocks for new applications greatly facilitates their integration in the defense sector. Additionally, Daher’s sovereign capabilities –through its industrialization and production capacity within France – are a major asset. Finally, its ability to collaborate effectively with other partners to integrate technologies that may not be mastered in-house also is to be commended. »
With this first successful flight, Daher demonstrates its ability to innovate rapidly in efficiently integrating new technologies and leveraging an existing operational industrial base to address challenges of sovereignty and industrial acceleration. This achievement, made possible with the DGA’s support and guidance, marks a key milestone toward the series production of sovereign solutions for the French armed forces. (Source: ASD Network)
03 Dec 25. Drone Major, has launched a first-of-its-kind managed procurement services platform for the global drone industry, which will help power Britain’s procurement process and drive innovation across Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the UK’s drone sector. The launch of the new managed procurement platform will enable buyers and suppliers in the UK drone industry to efficiently fast-track major projects and unlock new opportunities for SMEs to participate in previously inaccessible large-scale projects.
Drone Major, which secured approval from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for the UK’s first beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone flights over the UK’s Critical National Infrastructure in May 2025, has enhanced its existing supplier platform to connect global suppliers with high-value procurement opportunities in robotics, drones, and unmanned systems.
Robert Garbett, Founder and Chief Executive of Drone Major, commented on the new launch: “The UK has the talent and technologies, many of which reside within our own SME base, but it has lacked the mechanism to bring them to the front line effectively. The launch of our new platform marks a major step forward in empowering British SMEs and startups, giving them a powerful tool to navigate and simplify complex procurement processes in the drone industry.”
“It will help place the UK at the forefront of the global drone industry, while also strengthening the UK’s supply chain independence… and reducing reliance on China.”
The global drone and robotics market is projected to grow from a current size of £55 bn in 2024 to £121 bn in 2030, presenting British SMEs with a major opportunity.[1] Drone Major’s new platform is centred around a business-to-business marketplace to connect buyers and suppliers globally with vetted, trusted partners in the drone and robotics ecosystem. It enables the delivery of end-to-end programmes, with Drone Major coordinating the complete supply chain process, ensuring on-time and on-budget project completion. Drone Major will evaluate supplier bids, select the most capable vendors, and then manage the entire supply-chain execution, in addition to handling compliance, regulatory approval (including harnessing Drone Major’s experience with BVLOS authorisation where needed), project management, logistics, quality control, and final delivery.
Robert Garbett continued: “The new platform showcases the full breadth of our technical capability, enabling us to deliver virtually any solution in the Unmanned Systems domain. By opening up access to major opportunities, we’re putting the cards in the hands of the innovators. This platform will help drive a procurement revolution in the UK – cutting costs, saving time, and transforming how enterprise engages with the SME supply chain.”
The new Drone Major platform can be accessed here: https://dronemajor.net/
02 Dec 25. War Department Asks Industry to Make More Than 300K Drones, Quickly, Cheaply. The War Department requested information earlier this week to gauge industry’s willingness and ability to make some 300,000 drones quickly and inexpensively — a concrete effort by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to directly meet the “drone dominance” goals laid out by the president. On June 6, President Donald J. Trump signed the “Unleashing American Drone Dominance” executive order outlining how the United States would up its drone game in both the commercial and military sectors, including how it would deliver massive amounts of inexpensive, American-made, lethal drones to U.S. military units to amplify their combat capabilities. Hegseth followed up in July with the “Unleashing U.S. Military Drone Dominance” memorandum, in which he laid out his plan for how the department would meet the president’s intent. Part of the secretary’s plan included participating with other parts of government in building up the nascent U.S. drone manufacturing base by approving hundreds of American products for purchase by the department, powering a “technological leapfrog” by arming combat units with the very best of low-cost American-made drones, and finally, training as the department expects to fight.
“Next year I expect to see capability integrated into all relevant combat training, including force-on-force drone wars,” the secretary said.
At that time, Hegseth said, he had already advanced American drone dominance by stripping away regulations that hindered the military’s adoption of small drones and shifting the necessary authorities away from the department’s bureaucracy and into the hands of unit commanders.
“This was the first step in the urgent effort to boost lethality across the force,” Hegseth said in a video posted today to social media.
Now the War Department is moving out in a new way on the drone dominance initiative, Hegseth said.
“The second step is to kickstart U.S. industrial capacity and reduce prices, so our military can adequately budget for unmanned weapons,” the secretary said.
He noted that, with help from Congress, the department will initially focus on small attack drones.
“Drone dominance is a bn-dollar program funded by President Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill,” Hegseth said. “It is purpose-built on the pillars of the War Department’s new acquisition philosophy: a stable demand signal to expand the U.S. drone industrial base by leveraging private capital, paired with flexible contracting built for commercial companies, founded by our best engineers and entrepreneurs.”
A stable demand signal means the War Department will make concrete plans to buy lots of drones, on a regular schedule, over a long period of time. When that happens, American industry will step up to the plate to satisfy the department’s needs, including by investing in and building out its own capacity to produce in the long term. The request for information released to industry this week spells out a plan that’ll begin early next year, when the department will, over the course of two years, and within four phases, offer $1bn to industry to build a large number of small unmanned aerial systems capable of conducting one-way attack missions. The first of those four phases, called “gauntlets,” runs from February to July 2026. During that time, 12 vendors will be asked to collectively produce 30,000 drones at a cost of $5,000 per unit, for a total of $150m in department outlays. Over the course of the next three gauntlets, the number of vendors will go down from 12 to five, the number of drones ordered will increase from 30,000 to 150,000, and the price per drone will drop from $5,000 to $2,300.
“Drone dominance will do two things: drive costs down and capabilities up,” Hegseth said. “We will deliver tens of thousands of small drones to our force in 2026, and hundreds of thousands of them by 2027.”
Through the drone dominance program, $1 bn from the Big Beautiful Bill will fund the manufacture of approximately 340,000 small UASs for combat units over the course of two years.
After that, it’s expected that American industry’s interest in building drones as a result of the program will have strengthened supply chains and manufacturing capacity to the point that the military will be able to afford to buy the drones it wants, in the quantity it wants, at a price it wants, through regular budgeting.
Equipment is only part of the game, the secretary said. Doctrine — how the warfighter fights — is also critical.
“I will soon be meeting with the military services to discuss transformational changes in warfighting doctrine,” Hegseth said. “We need to outfit our combat units with unmanned systems at scale. We cannot wait. The funding provided by the Big Beautiful Bill is ready to be used to mount an effective sprint to build combat power. At the Department of War, we are adopting new technologies with a ‘fight tonight’ philosophy — so that our warfighters have the cutting-edge tools they need to prevail.”
Following the end of the Cold War, Hegseth said, U.S. defense spending dropped precipitously, and as a result, there was also a consolidation of defense contractors from hundreds to just dozens. The department, he said, budgeted for quality rather than quantity — and for 30 years got what it needed.
“However, we now find ourselves in a new era,” he said. “An era of cheap, disposable battlefield drones. We cannot be left behind — we must invest in inexpensive, unmanned platforms that have proved so effective.”
Drone dominance, he said, is how the U.S. will meet the drone challenge posed by other nations.
“One of my priorities is rebuilding our military,” Hegseth said. “We can’t do that by doing business the same way we have in the past. We cannot afford to shoot down cheap drones with $2 m missiles. And we ourselves must be able to field large quantities of capable attack drones.” (Source: U.S. DoD)
03 Dec 25. Croatia’s Orqa Scales Production Capacity to 280,000 Drones, Eliminating Chinese Drone Tech. Orqa, a leading European developer of FPV (first-person view) and unmanned aerial systems (UAS), has significantly expanded manufacturing at its headquarters in Osijek, Croatia. The facility can now produce up to 280,000 NDAA-compliant drones per year using Orqa’s proprietary components, eliminating dependence on Chinese supply chains. The expansion follows growing demand for reliable, defence-grade UAS systems that are free from Chinese components. Orqa’s fully vertically integrated model, where all key components are designed, engineered, and manufactured in-house, ensures complete control over performance, reliability, and security.
“This milestone reinforces our conviction that Europe can build a secure and independent industrial capacity for defence technology,” said Srdjan Kovacevic, CEO of Orqa. “We’ve proven that high-performance drone production can be scaled outside of China, supporting the creation of resilient and trusted global supply chains. As demand accelerates, we’re ready to deliver securely and at scale.”
The expanded facility strengthens Orqa’s world-leading engineering and precision assembly capabilities, enabling the company to produce both its own systems and high-performance components for trusted partners. Alongside this domestic investment, Orqa has also begun extending its production model globally through a decentralised network of strategic manufacturing partners, with deals in key territories already in place.
About Orqa
Orqa is a leading European drone technology company, designing and manufacturing advanced FPV and unmanned aerial systems in Croatia. Our fully vertically integrated operations, from design to production, enable complete supply chain independence and performance optimisation competitors cannot match. With 100,000+ products delivered in 2024 and customers across 50+ countries, we’re redefining aerial robotics for defence and enterprise clients worldwide. (Source: UAS VISION)
03 Dec 25. Egypt unveils new MRL, drones and other equipment at EDEX 2025. Egyptian companies have revealed a wide range of cutting-edge military equipment at the Egypt Defence Expo (EDEX) 2025 in Cairo this week, ranging from one-way attack drones to multiple rocket launchers (MRLs). A highlight from the Arab Organisation for Industrialisation (AOI) was the unveiling of its Rad’a 300 MRL, which combines a smaller version of the self-loading launcher used by Norinco’s SR5 MRL with AOI’s improved version of the ATS-59G Soviet tracked carrier, Janes reported. The Rad’a 300 has one munitions pod instead of the two carried by an SR5. This can be loaded with 20 122 mm artillery rockets or Norinco’s Fire Dragon family of guided surface-to-surface missiles. The missile options listed for the Egyptian system were 220 mm (six per pod) with a range of 25–75 km, 300 mm (four per pod) with a range of 30–150 km, and 610 mm (one per pod) with a range of 100–290 km, according to Janes. The system can deploy in 2 minutes, takes 5 minutes to respond to an order to fire, and can reload itself in 3 minutes. It is fitted with a fire-control system that enables target co-ordinates to be entered manually or automatically via a command-and-control system. It can also be remotely fired from up to 60 m away. AOI has an agreement with Norinco to export the Rad’a 300 to other countries. While tested and approved by the Egyptian Armed Forces, the Rad’a 300 has not been ordered by them. Also introduced at EDEX 2025 was the Sinai 806, an armoured recovery and maintenance vehicle produced entirely in Egypt. The platform supports the Sinai 200 tracked vehicle family and features a 2-ton lifting winch, towing power of up to 30 tons, and full repair equipment, all with the same protection level as armoured combat vehicles. A light 4×4 platform was fitted for the first time with a 23 mm twin-barrel anti-aircraft gun adapted to reduce recoil, allowing for use against both ground and air targets. The gun delivers a high rate of fire—1 600 rounds per minute—and can hit targets at more than 2 kilometres on the ground and 2.5 kilometres in the air.
Minister of State for Military Production Mohamed Salah El-Din said Egypt has advanced its ability to produce armoured steel, now manufacturing thicknesses up to 30 mm and widths up to 240 cm, double its previous capacity—part of a broader push to localise key components used in tanks and combat vehicles.
The ministry displayed a model of the K9A1EGY 155 mm howitzer, being jointly produced by Hanwha in South Korea and in Egypt. A dedicated production line is nearing completion, with the first battalion set for delivery in the first half of 2026. Ammunition for the system is already being produced domestically.
Egypt has also upgraded the Raad 200 rocket launcher with a new hydraulic control system and improved targeting mechanisms, the minister said.
Another highlight from EDEX 2025 was a new range of drones from Egyptian company Tornex. Its Jabbar 150 one-way attack drone has a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of 150 kg and is powered by a piston engine giving an endurance of 10 hours. A gimballed camera allows for target selection.
Tornex also displayed the larger Jabbar 250, which has a MTOW of 250 kg. It is powered by a small turbojet engine that gives it a speed of 576 km/h. The aircraft has a wingspan of 3.45 metres, a payload of 50 kg, and a maximum range of 1 500 km. Endurance is 2.5 hours. Powered by a piston engine, the smaller Jabbar 200 has an MTOW of 200 kg and looks similar to the Iranian Shahed-136 long-range one-way attack drone. It has an endurance of 14 hours, speed of 200 km/h and 50 kg payload. The new Jabbar range is designed to sit between Egypt’s ballistic missile inventory and its growing range of medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) UAVs, including platforms such as EJune 30 SW, Ahmous, and 6th October. On the smaller end of the scale, Tornex offers the electrically powered Voltex-10 fixed wing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with an endurance of 120 minutes, speed of 200 km/h, range of 400 km, and payload of 10 kg. Its Voltex-5 loitering munition is similar to the Switchblade and has an endurance of 60 minutes, speed of 180 km/h, range of 400 km, and payload of 10 kg. Two bomb guidance kits were displayed: the GK-10 kit offers a circular error probability (CEP) of less than 30 metres and a diving speed of 700 km/h. The GK-6 kit offers a CEP of 2 metres.
AOI had a big range of new products in display, including the FL350 manually-launched guided munition, saying it can be used for targeted, close-range attacks. It weighs 500 grams, carries a payload of 60 grams, has a battery life of 15 minutes and a range of 3 kilometres.
Also seen at EDEX 2025 was the AOI Hamza 1 reconnaissance and surveillance drone developed locally in collaboration with the Turkish company Havelsan; Nizek 1, 2, and 3 munitions designed to equip attack drones; and the Saqr 105 RPG launcher. The Hamza 1 is a fixed wing vertical takeoff and landing UAV fitted with an electro-optical gimbal on the nose, based on Havelsan’s Baha UAV. In August, Havelsan and AOI announced a partnership for the production of UAVs.
AOI’s Aqrab (Scorpion) unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) – equipped with a remotely controlled 12.7 mm gun, electro-optical and infrared cameras, and a laser rangefinder – attracted significant attention at EDEX 2025. The 6×6 vehicle can perform patrol, fire support, or reconnaissance missions in high-risk areas without exposing military personnel. The Scorpion was also developed in collaboration with Havelsan. The system’s modular architecture allows customers to replace the weapon station with their own machine guns, electro-optical turrets, non-lethal payloads, or even engineering tools.
Other AOI products showcased included a Fahd armoured vehicle with a remotely operated turret fitted with a 30 mm cannon and anti-tank missile launchers; backpack and handheld jammers; SAKR 105 recoilless rifle; van and armoured vehicle-mounted HARIS-4 and HARIS-2 counter-drone systems; cellphone signal jammer; and wireless eavesdropping device. An unmanned surface vessel (USV-001) was displayed fitted with an Eagle-2 remote weapon station, produced locally in collaboration with Spain’s Escribano.
On the vehicle side, a new Special Forces variant of the 4×4 Temsah-3 armoured vehicle was displayed – this features a protected cab for two crew and an open-topped rear with four 7.62 Sinai 300 machineguns installed on pintle mounts. A 6.5 litre diesel engine gives a top speed of 125 km/h. Production is believed to begin soon. Amstone International Group introduced its ST-108 GPR mine detection vehicle built on an armoured vehicle chassis with a wide ground penetrating radar system. A hydraulic boom above the cab fitted with a grabber attachment can be used for demining activities without the crew having to leave the vehicle. Apart from products being displayed for the first time, EDEX 2025 also witnessed the signature of numerous memoranda of understanding: Aselsan signed cooperation agreements with Amstone and Tornex, while AOI and Norinco signed an MoU to localise defence production, and Pakistan’s GIDS signed an MoU with AIO. Further AOI MoUs were signed with Emirati-Chinese company Qalaa Red Flag and Chinese company Shadow Wings.
AOI also signed seven agreements with the UAE’s Abu Dhabi Aviation Group to cooperate on manufacturing, maintenance and logistics. The partnership involves AOI’s Aircraft, Engine, and Helwan factories working with Abu Dhabi Aviation subsidiaries, including Maximus Air, Global Aerospace Logistics (GAL), and the Advanced Military Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul Centre (AMMROC).
EDEX runs from 1 to 4 December. The last edition of the show in 2023 hosted over 34 000 participants from 97 countries – this year there are more than 450 companies exhibiting, along with 25 national pavilions, and official delegations from 100 countries. About 40 000 exhibitors are expected over the four days of the show. (Source: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/)
01 Dec 25. Aviation, Calls for Streamlined Defence Partnerships. High Eye, a Dutch scale-up specializing in unmanned aerial systems (UAS), is highlighting its flagship product, the Airboxer, an advanced vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) helicopter designed to operate in the challenging maritime domain. The company aims to bridge a critical gap in the market while advocating for strategic, long-term partnerships with defence and government agencies.
Joost de Ruiter, CEO and founder of High Eye, explained the company’s genesis: “We saw a gap in the market for systems that can land and take off vertically. You’ve got small electric multicopters and large unmanned systems, but not much in between. We wanted to fill that gap with an unmanned helicopter with a small footprint, specifically designed for the maritime domain.”
Unmatched Endurance and Maritime Resilience
Developed since 2013, the fuel-powered Airboxer is built to handle strong winds, salt, and the constant motion of a ship’s deck. Its robust design allows it to operate effectively at sea, though its capabilities also extend to land operations. The Airboxer is a fully automated aerial platform capable of carrying up to seven kilograms of diverse payload, which the user determines. Key performance specifications include:
- Endurance: Up to four hours of flight time thanks to its fuel-powered propulsion.
- Speed: A cruising speed of 75 km/h and a maximum speed of 130 km/h.
- Missions: Used globally for reconnaissance, situational awareness, and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) by entities such as Defence, the Coastguard, and the offshore industry.
Compact Footprint: Requires only a four by four meter area for takeoff and landing.
The Call for Strategic Collaboration
While High Eye has maintained continuous contact and interest from Defence for years, De Ruiter advocates for a shift in procurement strategy to maximize innovation. He notes that lengthy procurement procedures can result in systems being outdated by the time they are delivered, potentially eroding the company’s margins as newer components are integrated late in the process.
“A better way would be to build long-term partnerships with trusted partners,” states De Ruiter. “That would enable Defence and industry to develop systems jointly, ensuring that what we build works within the Navy’s operational concepts. Programmes such as SDIR (Strategic Defence Innovation Research), in which we are currently participating with the Royal Netherlands Navy, are good steps in that direction.”
Scaling Up and Financing Needs
As a scale-up, High Eye is facing financing challenges common in the defense sector. Defence contracts typically pay only after delivery, yet upfront investment is required to purchase components, often necessitating 50 percent of the total cost. This creates a challenging financing environment, as banks and investors often require a signed contract before providing credit.
De Ruiter emphasizes that an advance payment mechanism from government agencies would significantly support scale-ups during the component purchasing phase. He stressed the importance of working capital financing over equity investments, noting, “Most entrepreneurs aren’t looking for new shareholders; they’re looking for working capital financing.”
The Airboxer remains a highly practical and compact solution, easily operated by a two-person team after a three-week training course. Its simple maintenance allows for major component replacement, such as an engine, within two hours using basic tools.
De Ruiter remains optimistic about the future of unmanned systems, anticipating that naval vessels will increasingly utilize multiple unmanned platforms alongside manned helicopters to enhance flexibility and efficiency. (Source: ASD Network)
01 Dec 25. Farpoint Established to Support Allied Training for Uncrewed Systems Operations and C2 Integration. Farpoint unites the International Defence Aerospace Group (US), Quanti (CZ), TRL Drones (CZ) and Vrgineers (US-CZ) to deliver fully simulated, interoperable drone warfare training to tactical operators and command-level teams. A new multinational defence consortium, Farpoint (CZ), has been established to deliver a new standard in tactical and command-level drone warfare training. Bringing together capabilities from Quanti, TRL Drones, Vrgineers, and the International Defence Aerospace Group (IDAG), Farpoint is dedicated to preparing forces to command, integrate, and defend against uncrewed systems in modern conflict. This initiative integrates tactical insights and operational lessons from recent conflicts with state-of-the-art simulation technologies linked directly to real drone hardware, combining the strengths of its founders into a deployable, NATO-aligned training capability.
“We’re not just training operators — we’re developing commanders,” said Portia Roscoe, Programme Director, “Farpoint combines the technological excellence of its founders with operational insight from the frontline. Our mission is to ensure that allied personnel are ready to plan, coordinate and execute within the evolving battlespace — interoperable, deployable, and prepared to lead.”
Training built for today — engineered for tomorrow
Farpoint’s capability roadmap responds to an urgent operational gap: rapidly scalable, fully simulated, integrated tactical synthetic training for drone operators. These initial modules focus on decision-making, mission execution, and resilience under contested conditions. The courses include high-fidelity, repeatable mission environments to build operator proficiency quickly and safely in conditions which can be costly to simulate in a live training environment. Designed for rapid deployment and standardised assessment, the platform produces measurable outcomes to ensure readiness at scale.
In parallel, the consortium is developing a complementary command-level training pathway to prepare tactical leaders and C2 teams to integrate uncrewed systems into broader battlespace management. These modules will address operational planning, legal and rules-of-engagement considerations, and coalition interoperability at the command level.
Integrated technology. Proven capability.
Farpoint utilises the Vrgineers technological stack, a US and Czech, based company specializing in high-fidelity simulation technologies that deliver unmatched realism. The Farpoint simulator solution enables operators to experience high-fidelity virtual environments and direct hands-on control within a single compact, deployable system designed for rapid global deployment and consistent training outcomes.
By incorporating VBS 4.0, the professional military simulation environment developed by OneArc and BAE Systems, the Farpoint solution can seamlessly integrate with existing training scenarios used by current customers across the virtual battlefield.
“UAV systems are increasingly deployed in complex, high-risk environments where operator readiness directly determines mission success. Continuous, effective training must be a strategic capability,” said Jiri Janousek, from TRL Drones. “It must be easy to use, and provide realistic mission environments and evaluation so operators are always fully prepared.”
Public debut at I/ITSEC 2025
Farpoint will make its public debut at I/ITSEC 2025 in Orlando, Florida, from 1–5 December 2025, exhibiting alongside Vrgineers at Booth #1760. Portia Roscoe and consortium partners will be available for briefings and to coordinate follow-up meetings with interested parties.
About Farpoint
Farpoint is a defence training consortium formed by Vrgineers, Quanti, TRL Drones, and the International Defence Aerospace Group (IDAG). The consortium delivers NATO-aligned, fully simulated drone warfare training solutions that prepare operators today and develop commanders for tomorrow. Its integrated technologies are designed to be interoperable, deployable, and future-ready.
About consortium partners
About Vrgineers
Vrgineers is a Czech-U.S. company developing cutting-edge virtual and mixed reality solutions for professional pilot training. Trusted by global air forces, defense contractors, and aerospace organizations, Vrgineers combines innovation, performance, and security to redefine training in the modern defense ecosystem.
About TRL Drones
TRL Drones is a Czech technology company focused on the development and production of autonomous unmanned aircraft, including complete in-house hardware and software solutions. With experience in both civil and defence sectors, we design, manufacture advanced UAV systems for customers worldwide.
About IDAG
Founded in 2016, IDAG is an aviation solutions provider based in the United States and Europe, serving government and commercial operators in demanding environments. IDAG delivers platform sales and leasing, avionics integration and modernization, depot and field level MRO, flight operations, training, and solutions consulting. The company supports certified training and maintenance activities in the U.S. and Europe, including EASA compliant helicopter MRO capabilities in Budapest, and manages a global parts and logistics network to ensure just-in-time delivery for fleet sustainment. IDAG is an authorized sales agent for MD Helicopters, supporting customers across Central and Eastern Europe and other international markets. For more information, visit www.idagcorp.com
About Quanti
Quanti is a Czech technology company delivering custom digital solutions and hardware across web, mobile, and enterprise platforms.
Founded in 2010 by graduates of the Czech Technical University in Prague, Quanti has grown into a trusted partner for companies seeking innovation, reliability, and craftsmanship in both software and hardware development. With over a decade of experience and a team of more than 150 specialists, Quanti helps clients transform ideas into scalable digital products — from e-commerce and IoT to AR/VR and AI-powered systems.
01 Dec 25. Orqa, Europe’s leading developer of FPV (first-person view) and unmanned aerial systems (UAS), has significantly expanded manufacturing at its headquarters in Osijek, Croatia. The facility can now produce up to 280,000 NDAA-compliant drones per year using Orqa’s proprietary components, eliminating dependence on Chinese supply chains.
Orqa MRM 1-5
The expansion follows growing demand for reliable, defence-grade UAS systems that are free from Chinese components. Orqa’s fully vertically integrated model, where all key components are designed, engineered, and manufactured in-house, ensures complete control over performance, reliability, and security.
“This milestone reinforces our conviction that Europe can build a secure and independent industrial capacity for defence technology,” said Srdjan Kovacevic, CEO of Orqa. “We’ve proven that high-performance drone production can be scaled outside of China, supporting the creation of resilient and trusted global supply chains. As demand accelerates, we’re ready to deliver securely and at scale.”
The expanded facility strengthens Orqa’s world-leading engineering and precision assembly capabilities, enabling the company to produce both its own systems and high-performance components for trusted partners. Alongside this domestic investment, Orqa has also begun extending its production model globally through a decentralised network of strategic manufacturing partners, with deals in key territories already in place.
About Orqa
Orqa is Europe’s leading drone technology company, designing and manufacturing advanced FPV and unmanned aerial systems in Croatia. Our fully vertically integrated operations, from design to production, enable complete supply chain independence and performance optimization competitors cannot match. With 100,000+ products delivered in 2024 and customers across 50+ countries, we’re redefining aerial robotics for defense and enterprise clients worldwide.
(Source: PR Newswire)
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EOS
Electro Optic Systems (EOS) is an Australian technology company with a global presence, delivering advanced solutions across defence and space. With operations in Australia, the United States, Europe, Singapore, the Middle East and New Zealand, EOS has been designing and manufacturing precision technologies for more than four decades.
In defence, EOS is a leader in remote weapon systems, with more than 2,500 delivered and proven in operational service with allied forces. The company designs, develops and manufactures highly accurate counter-drone solutions for force and asset protection. These include both kinetic and high energy laser options that defeat drone threats effectively and at a comparatively low cost per shot. In August 2025, EOS secured the world’s first export contract for a 100 kW-class high energy laser weapon, with delivery scheduled between 2025 and 2028.
In the space domain, EOS is internationally recognised for its expertise in space domain awareness and space control. Its ground-based optical systems track and characterise satellites and debris to support both defence and commercial operations worldwide. Through its New Zealand subsidiary, EOS also designs and manufactures precision optics for space and astronomy applications.
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