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29 May 25. New Expeditionary USV for Covert Maritime Surveillance & Special Forces Missions. FLANQ’s new Q-RECON USV delivers agile, man-portable maritime surveillance and interdiction capabilities, purpose-built for special forces and operations in littoral environments. FLANQ has launched Q-RECON, a compact, man-portable Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV) engineered to meet modern naval challenges in littoral and denied environments. Designed and manufactured in Europe, Q-RECON has been developed in response to an urgent operational requirement from a European defense customer and represents a new tier of expeditionary maritime capabilities tailored for special operations forces. The Q-RECON is a lightweight, two-meter-long platform optimized for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR), tactical interdiction, and high-risk coastal missions. With its small form factor and two-person portability, the USV provides special forces with rapid deployment capabilities in austere and contested maritime zones. Its 30kg internal payload bay supports a diverse array of sensors including 360° night vision, multi-spectral imaging, and other advanced electro-optics, enabling discreet infrastructure inspection, beach reconnaissance, and environmental surveillance. Capable of both persistent and expendable operations, Q-RECON offers tactical flexibility across a broad spectrum of mission profiles.
Chief Technology Officer at FLANQ, Jannik Sauer, said, “Q-RECON has gone from concept to in-water testing in around 120 days – testimony to the speed of innovation in the European defence sector at the demand for affordable maritime autonomous systems. Our customer came to us with a very specific feature list, including price and portability and 100% European content. Q-RECON is our response to those challenges.”
Q-RECON is driven by dual vectored jet drives engineered in-house by FLANQ, delivering burst speeds of up to 30 knots and exceptional maneuverability in shallow or constrained waters. The vessel’s autonomous navigation suite incorporates onboard autopilot, GPS, Inertial Measurement Units (IMU), and optional dead-reckoning navigation, ensuring precise performance even in GNSS-denied environments. At the heart of Q-RECON’s operational flexibility is FLANQ’s proprietary Q-KONTROL and Q-MIND software-hardware stack. This mission system enables real-time reconfiguration of payloads and autonomous route planning, providing operators with critical adaptability during dynamic operations. (Source: https://www.defenseadvancement.com/)
28 May 25. European Defence Fund Commits Up to €10.09m to Advanced Long-Range UAV Project VANTAGE. A pan-European consortium, coordinated by Latvijas Mobilais Telefons (LMT), has secured substantial funding from the European Defence Fund (EDF) to launch the VANTAGE project – an ambitious initiative to develop the next generation of tactical unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for European defence. Awarded under the EDF’s 2024 call for collaborative defence research and development, the VANTAGE project brings together leading partners from across Europe. With an estimated total project cost of €10.88 m and a maximum EU contribution of €10.09m, this project marks a significant step forward in Europe’s pursuit of technological superiority and operational autonomy on the modern battlefield. The VANTAGE project will deliver a modular, long-range, vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drone platform, capable of executing a broad range of command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C4ISR) missions, as well as kinetic strikes. The platform is being designed for maximum adaptability, allowing for the seamless integration of new sensors and navigation systems to ensure optimal performance in diverse environments, including GPS-denied scenarios.
“The VANTAGE project goes beyond technological innovation; it marks a strategic leap that positions Europe at the forefront of defence development,” said Kaspars Pollaks, Director of the Defence Technology Department at Latvijas Mobilais Telefons. “By bringing together our unique experience, expertise, and resources from across borders, we are building a future-ready capability that will strengthen Europe’s security, enhance operational flexibility, and set new standards for cooperation within the defence industry. As we have seen in Ukraine, UAVs play a critical role on the modern battlefield. We are honoured to lead this visionary consortium and contribute to a safer, more secure Europe.”
Spanning 36 months, the VANTAGE project encompasses a comprehensive development lifecycle, from studies and system design to prototyping and rigorous testing. A key focus is on ensuring the system’s adaptability and interoperability, enabling rapid integration of new technologies and sustained effectiveness in the evolving threat environment.
About the Consortium:
The VANTAGE consortium brings together 8 renowned organisations from 7 countries across the continent and include: Latvijas Mobilais Telefons SIA (Coordinator), C&V Defence, CAVOK UAS, Centro de Observación y Teledetección Espacial SAU, Vegvisir, Institutul Național de Cercetare-Dezvoltare Aerospațială “Elie Carafoli” (INCAS București), M3 Systems Belgium, UAV Navigation – Grupo Oesía.
28 May 25. Accelerating Drone Research for Dutch Defence: The Strength of an Ecosystem. NLR has officially launched the Quick Response Drone Facility (QRDF). A new facility to conduct research quickly and effectively on uncrewed systems for defence. “Drones are playing an increasingly important role in aviation, for defence and also for civil applications,” says Bert Thuis, Vice President Aerospace Vehicles at NLR. Unmanned systems are playing an increasingly significant role in conflicts and warfare as is clearly evident in Ukraine. “It often involves small, relatively simple drones that swarm through the airspace in their tens or hundreds,” says Bert Thuis. This is just one of many examples of the deployment of uncrewed systems in the air. As a knowledge institution, NLR works closely with the Ministry of Defence. “We carry out research on new technologies for the deployment of new systems. Developments within the current forms of warfare are progressing faster and faster,” he continues. “For example, in Ukraine, you see that the opponent has found a way to disable the drones within a couple of weeks, for instance by jamming the systems (disrupting the signals). We need to able to respond quickly and provide support where necessary.”
Fast and reliable research
To accelerate innovation around unmanned systems, NLR opened the Quick Response Drone Facility (QRDF) on 21 May 2025. This facility brings together various people and resources within NLR. The goal: to make a drone operationally deployable within four to six weeks, based on a request from the Ministry of Defence. ”That’s easier said than done,” says Thuis. “A six-week timeline is very short for NLR. We often work on research projects with a duration of more than ten years, which is common in the aerospace sector because of the stringent safety standards.” Thuis emphasizes that these kinds of standards remain important even in short-term research projects, but a different approach is required. “From a technological perspective, it’s not really a challenge to work with a six-week deadline, as the technology is usually far enough advanced. We mainly need to adapt our way of thinking and operating. For example, consider procurement procedures, which often take several months. That obviously doesn’t work when a product needs to be delivered within six weeks.”
The approach to projects with shorter lead times also requires a shift within the organisation. “It’s essential that we become comfortable with failure,” he says. “We’re used to thoroughly examining everything in theory before testing it. But that’s not always possible with projects in the QRDF.” That’s why NLR uses the ‘fail fast’ principle in this facility. As a result, researchers proceed more quickly to testing, allowing them to gain insights into what works and what doesn’t in a relatively short timeframe. “If something doesn’t work, we move on to an alternative until we find a good solution,” Thuis outlines. This is also known as short-cycle innovation.
Collaborating with SMEs and start-ups
NLR is collaborating with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups to shape the workflow within the QRDF. Initially, these projects were mainly carried out internally, but Thuis wants to involve start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) even more intensively in the process. “These companies play a vital role in the development process, as they are well-suited to rapid adaptation and innovation. Ultimately, they will also be responsible for manufacturing the drones”. By combining NLR’s expertise in knowledge and technology with the agility and entrepreneurial spirit of SMEs and start-ups, Thuis aims to create a powerful partnership.
Centre of Excellence
The QRDF marks the beginning of NLR’s journey towards establishing a Centre of Excellence for Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS). This centre is to be situated near NLR’s office and research facilities in Marknesse, and will be a physical hub where the Ministry of Defence, research institutions, industry partners, and educational organisations can converge to drive innovation and advancement in the field. Thuis describes the centre as a “campus-like” setting, within walking distance of NLR’s facilities, where companies can rent offices and workshops, and gain easy access to NLR’s research facilities in Marknesse to further develop and test their products. “We will provide support from NLR wherever possible, and companies will have easy access to our facilities,” he explains.
NLR has a range of advanced facilities at their premises in the Noordoostpolder in the Netherlands that play a crucial role in the development of drones. For example, NLR has a restricted airspace that allows for the testing of non-certified experimental drones. At the same location, NLR also has the ACM3 technology centre, which focuses on the development of automated manufacturing techniques for composites and metals. This technology centre includes a “Pilot Plant”, a test factory where automated composite manufacturing technologies are developed for high Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs), with the aim of helping start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) bridge the “valley of death” (the period between the proof-of-concept (demonstrating that an idea works) and the commercial launch of a product or service). NLR also has a moving platform that simulates landing a drone on the deck of a ship. The organisation also collaborates with the Mobility and Infrastructure Test Centre (MITC), where a miniature version of a physical city is being developed to practice drone flights in an urban environment. This “city” is scheduled to be completed in 2026, providing a unique testing ground for drone manufacturers and operators.
“These facilities are incredibly important for the development of drones, but for relatively small companies, it’s often too expensive and complicated to arrange themselves,” Thuis explains. “By allowing them to use our facilities, these companies can innovate more quickly.” Once a company has completed its development and is ready for production, it can “fly out” of the facility, making way for new companies to take its place.
Everything under one roof
The QRDF and the Centre of Excellence are interconnected. The QRDF is where new drones are researched and developed, while the Centre of Excellence is where companies can then explore the possibility of rapidly scaling up production.
The Centre of Excellence takes it a step further. Thuis emphasizes that the campus is not just about the relatively simple drones from the QRDF, but also provides space for the development of highly complex systems with longer development times. “We can make a contribution at all levels,” he says.
Education is a crucial aspect
Education is an integral part of the centre’s mission, with NLR teaming up with Firda to launch a vocational training programme (MBO) that focuses on the design, production, and operation of unmanned systems. As Thuis explains, “By combining Firda’s educational expertise with NLR’s industry knowledge, we can provide students with the skills and training they need to succeed in this field, while also addressing the future personnel needs of companies and organisations like the Ministry of Defence. NLR will also provide support for practical training sessions during the course.”
Defence Strategy
The development of the QRDF and the Centre of Excellence is closely aligned with the Ministry of Defence’s Strategy, “Defence wants to make it easier for startups and scale-ups to access R&D facilities in the Netherlands, and that’s exactly what’s happening here,” Thuis explains. “Additionally, the strategy emphasizes the importance of scalability of innovations, meaning that they should be relatively easy and quick to produce.” To achieve this, Thuis notes that NLR works with commercially available equipment that is relatively easy to obtain.
Ultimately, Thuis hopes that the Centre of Excellence will play a key role in the development and production of complex unmanned systems in the Netherlands and Europe in the future. “This will increase the reliability and security of supply for the Ministry of Defence, making us less dependent on other countries that can suddenly change direction,” he says. “Ultimately, we’re working towards a European supply chain for technologies, materials, and products needed to preserve our freedom.” (Source: ASD Network)
27 May 25. British Army lean on drones in a new, three-layered formation. The service will likely initiate a concept demonstrator for this three-pronged approach soon. It is understood that the British Army will implement a new operational formation composed of disposable and attritable drone layers, preserving a more valuable third layer of conventional and crewed platforms. Army Technology learned that the service will likely initiate a concept demonstrator for this three-pronged approach during the Helicopter Technology Central and Eastern Europe conference on 22 May in Prague, Czech Republic. While the words ‘disposable’ and ‘attritable’ are sometimes used synonymously in describing uncrewed aerial systems (UAS), the two adjectives mean different things in this context. Disposable UAS – often termed ‘one-way-attack’ or ‘kamikaze’ drones – will make up the first offensive layer to engage the enemy. There is little to no expectation that these systems will be deployed more than once as the units are designed to carry a warhead and detonate on impact with a target. For this reason, they are typically cheaper than other UAS types. Whereas, it is hoped that attritable systems will return after use. These types of UAS can be used repeatedly for a range of missions, from conducting stand off strikes to intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance.
Drone fodder: where does the concept come from?
This is not the first time that a military has considered deploying uncrewed systems in this way. For more than a year, the US Army has been vocal about its efforts to restructure the way they operate to adapt to the new methods of combat with peer rivals. Currently, the US Army are in the process of distributing thousands of small UAS across its Brigade Combat Teams at the company level. So far, the service has assigned between 300 to 400 systems. This decision is just one of many policies that constitute a change in the land forces by unburdening soldiers, aligning with a new Army mantra that they no longer want to trade blood for first contact. (Source: army-technology.com)
27 May 25. French Navy tests unmanned beach assault, expands drone tactics. The French Navy is stepping up drone use in the air and in the water, relying almost entirely on unmanned systems to recapture a beach in southern France in an amphibious operation during an exercise in March, according to the commander of the force. In the exercise to retake a stretch of shore in the Bay of Hyères on France’s Mediterranean coast, the Navy used aerial drones and underwater gliders for maritime surveillance, drones to assault enemies targeting the beach, and to counterattack hostile drones, Navy Chief of Staff Adm. Nicolas Vaujour told a parliamentary hearing last week.
“We did it almost entirely with drones,” Vaujour told the National Assembly’s defense committee. “We are in the experimental phase to see exactly how far we want to go with each of these things.”
In the exercise called Dragoon Fury, the French Navy used its amphibious helicopter carrier Tonnerre as a drone platform. Vaujour said drones don’t fully replace amphibious maneuvers, and the Navy will still be dropping off troops and piloted military equipment on beaches, “but we are fully invested in this concept of drone carriers.”
Vaujour said the Navy is “starting to achieve some interesting things,” for example using first-person view drones or tele-operated munitions to take out attacking unmanned surface vehicles.
Despite these advancements, a drone force today isn’t able to provide the power projection of an aircraft carrier strike group, Vaujour told lawmakers. “Being able to drop six 125-kilogram bombs 400 to 600 nautical miles from the aircraft carrier, that’s something a drone can’t do.” Drones are particularly well-suited for operations in confined areas such as the Baltic Sea, and can offer additional capabilities especially when operating near coastlines or a carrier platform, such as in the beach assault, said Vice Adm. Emmanuel Slaars, the French Navy commander in charge of operations, speaking after Vaujour. Still, don’t count on drones for all the solutions, he said.
“This is not high seas action, it is not the ability to fight against nuclear attack submarines,” Slaars told lawmakers. “We don’t yet have drones, either in the air or on the surface domain, capable of operating sustainably in contested environments – and I think it will still be a very long time before we do so in the surface domain.”
The Navy embarked around ten defense companies aboard the Tonnerre during Dragoon Fury in the first two weeks of March, to create a real-life laboratory for tactical and technological innovation. Participating companies included Alseamar with underwater gliders, Delair with several drones from its portfolio and Exail with its DriX H-8 unmanned surface vehicle. The French Navy has been experimenting with autonomous underwater gliders for several years, with the systems truly operational “for some time now,” according to Vaujour. The Navy works with Alseamar, which makes a 2-meter long underwater glider called Seaexplorer with an advertised 1,700-kilometer range and 110-day endurance. During last year’s Polaris 24 exercise, in which the French and Italian navies faced off in the Mediterranean, the French force deployed gliders that were able to detect a number of Italian vessels. The French then struck the opposing ships with carrier aircraft from “a very, very long way off,” leaving the Italians clueless to how they’d been localized, according to Vaujour. Locating the opposing vessels relied on “lots of artificial intelligence” to detect small signals in the data collected by the gliders, according to the admiral.
“So that was quite an interesting breakthrough that shows there’s a place for gliders,” Vaujour said. “On the other hand, with passive detection alone, you can’t detect everything.”
Gliders are “still a long way off” from being able to sniff out a nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, according to Vaujour. However, they will have their place in maritime surveillance, and passive swarms combined with artificial intelligence for data analysis are an interesting means of detection, he said.
“There’s still a lot of room for improvement,” the admiral said. “We’re developing these tools on a national level, with real capabilities, but also real limitations. The manufacturer who says they’re going to make the oceans transparent isn’t credible yet, let’s say.”
AI hasn’t yet been able to replace the human ear for analysis of acoustic signals, “even though a lot of money has been spent trying to do so,” Vaujour said. What the Navy needs are acoustic warfare analysts that understand the technology and “who will help the AI to help them,” he said. The Navy is taking an “iterative approach” to AI development, bringing aboard experts so they can see what the force needs, according to Vaujour. The Navy’s center for data services and AI developed an onboard data hub that was tested onboard the frigate Provence, with Vaujour describing the hub as “a huge computer” collecting all data from a ship, with subsequent analysis catching signals that would previously have gone unnoticed. The success of the test prompted the Navy to put four data hubs on ships taking part in a five-month deployment of the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier strike group, from late November to late April. The Navy also invited data scientists from French defense firms along for a month-long stint during the mission. Vaujour gave lawmakers a non-classified example of AI use on the Provence, in which algorithms tracked down the underlying cause of a diesel alternator valve failure, identifying a rising fluid temperature elsewhere in the system as the culprit. In another example, before passing a strait in Indonesia during the Charles de Gaulle deployment, the Navy used AI to analyze hundreds of possible locations for a Chinese submarine to work out the best tactical screen for the carrier, which Vaujour said “wasn’t entirely intuitive.” The Navy now needs to build up its AI skills, which must become generalized, and structure how the subject is approached from a human-resources angle, Vaujour said in the committee hearing.
“How do we inject artificial intelligence modules into all naval training, not to turn people into data scientists, but to create maritime experts in a field who can easily plug into artificial intelligence,” Vaujour said. “I’m not going to turn data scientists into acoustic experts. However, I can make acoustic experts compatible with data scientists. That’s the direction we’re headed.” (Source: Defense News)
28 May 25. Iran Army Unveils Three New VTOL Drones. The Islamic Republic of Iran Army has taken delivery of three new domestically-designed and developed vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drones, which are versatile for various missions and can also transition to fixed-wing flight for increased efficiency and longer range. The military hardware, dubbed Homa, Dideban (Watchdog) and Shahin-1 (Falcon-1) first-person view (FPV) suicide drones, were put on display during an unveiling ceremony at the Iranian Army’s drone and air base in the southeastern city of Zahedan last week. The Homa VTOL drone reportedly can operate at a maximum flight altitude of over 12,000 feet (3,657 meters). It is capable of successfully undertaking various reconnaissance missions in electronic warfare situations by utilizing its night vision capability, without the need for a runway. The Dideban drone, which will join the Iranian Army’s Ground Force, is also a lightweight and portable unmanned aerial vehicle that utilizes its day and night visibility and has the ability to pinpoint the precise location of the target. With a flight altitude of 6,000 feet, the drone can complete a variety of reconnaissance and target pinpointing missions in different electronic warfare situations. The distinctive feature of the Dideban drone is that it can be flown within a group and can monitor and target several areas simultaneously. The Shahin-1 FPV suicide drone is a new and modern one capable of confronting the dangers of future battles. Thanks to its distinctive features of flight continuity, operational range, and flight altitude appropriate to various operations, it is capable of hitting and destroying all fixed and mobile enemy targets with its maneuverability and high speed. (Source: UAS VISION/Islamic Republic News Agency)
23 May 25. Japan announces multirole combat support USV development. The Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA), the research, development and procurement arm of the Japan Ministry of Defense (JMOD) took the opportunity at the DSEI Japan 2025 exhibition to announce a new uncrewed surface vehicle (USV) development with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI). According to ATLA officials, the proposed USV development is aimed at supporting the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s (JMSDF) principal surface warfare ships, such as its guided-missile destroyers, during combat and other high-end operations. Officials also indicated that the length of the USV could be up to 50 m and feature an integrated sensor package comprising an electro-optic/infrared (EO/IR) camera and a radar to provide intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) data. For combat operations, the USV would be equipped with lethal payloads such as surface-to-surface missiles and torpedoes.
“The USV project is currently in detailed design and we expect a prototype to undergo at sea testing by the end of 2027,” said an ATLA official.
MHI has some experience in USV development, with its Maritime Unmanned Systems Development Department of the Naval Ship & Maritime Systems Division showcasing the multirole Whale USV at the previous iteration of DSEI Japan. MHI officials earlier told AMR that the Whale USV has also been used as a testbed for several types of unmanned systems, including unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) and rotary-wing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), as well as expendable mine disposal (EMD) devices. The sea vehicle, which was displayed with a rotary-wing UAV, is managed by a proprietary command and control (C2) system called CoasTitan. According to MHI, CoasTitan is capable of managing simultaneous multiple UAVs, USVs, and UUVs for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations. Data transmission, collection, and exploitation is also performed autonomously to aid decision makers. The JMSDF has also earlier articulated a plan to procure up to 17 USVs for mine-countermeasures (MCM) operations. The MCM USVs will be integrated to the service’s new Mogami-class frigates to provide an organic, standoff MCM capability. The USVs will be equipped with indigenously developed EMD devices to neutralise mines, and will also be able to function as a ‘mothership’ to deploy and command UUVs. The UUV type is expected to be MHI’s own OZZ-5 UUV, which will serve as the search and identification component of the MCM system. The UUV measures 4 m long and 0.5 m wide with a weight of 900 kg and is based on a prototype developed by the Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics Agency (ATLA). The OZZ-5 is equipped with a dual-imaging sonar suite that enables it to discern buried objects at low frequencies while possessing the ability to perform high-resolution scans of exposed objects on the seabed. Development of the yet-unnamed JMSDF MCM USV has been undertaken since 2017 under its Outrange Mine Countermeasure Operation programme. (Source: AMR)
23 May 25. C-Astral Aerospace and Auterion Unveil Stealthy MWT (Medi Wing Tactical) Delivery Drone – C-Astral Aerospace and Auterion have announced their collaboration at AUVSI Xponential 2025. This partnership showcases the Red Dot: Best of the Best Design Award-winning SQA2 eVTOL blended wing body UAS, enhanced by Auterion’s trusted software platform for robotics and autonomous systems, alongside a revolutionary high-speed, radar-invisible MWT (Medi Wing Tactical) delivery drone. The SQA2 eVTOL, designed for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), offers a 3-hour flight endurance, a 40 km line-of-sight datalink range, new Atmolab REX-100 / REX-110 gimbal camera options and compliance with NATO standards, making it a top choice for the U.S. and NATO markets. Its battlefield-proven design, rapid deployment, and advanced aerodynamics ensure versatility for military, first responder, and civilian applications. Integrated with Auterion’s scalable software, the SQA2 delivers enhanced autonomy and seamless mission integration. C-Astral will also debut the game-changing MWT (Medi Wing Tactical) Delivery Drone at Xponential, enhanced by Auterion’s autonomous targeting capabilities and C-Astral’s proprietary datalinks. This high-speed, stealthy UAS, with anti-radar materials and GPS-independent operation, redefines tactical logistics for secure, rapid payload delivery in challenging environments.
“Our partnership with Auterion elevates the SQA2 and our new delivery drone to new heights, combining innovative hardware with flexible software,” said Nejc Trost, co-founder and head of strategic R&D of C-Astral Aerospace.
“These systems set a new standard for connected and interoperable UAS performance,” added Lorenz Meier, CEO of Auterion. (Source: UAS VISION/c-astral)
26 May 25. Poland, Romania lead a drone bonanza in Eastern Europe. As Poland’s military is developing the Drone Force, its latest military component that was launched earlier this year, the Ministry of National Defence recently signed a deal to purchase the largest number of unmanned aerial vehicles in the country’s history. The move comes as various Eastern European allies are advancing major drone purchases, drawing lessons from Russia’s war against Ukraine. On May 15, the Polish ministry signed a framework agreement with local private defense company WB Group to buy some 10,000 units of the Warmate loitering munition. The contract foresees deliveries until 2035.
“This is a large-scale investment – 10,000 Warmate drones are becoming a fact,” Władysław Kosiniak Kamysz, Poland’s deputy prime minister and defense minister, said at the official signing ceremony, as quoted in a statement.
“They will soon start being delivered to the Polish military. The next deals, which will be executive, will be signed in the near future,” he added.
WB Group has been expanding its portfolio of UAVs over the past years. Some of the latest additions to the company’s range include the Warmate TL-R reconnaissance system, FT5 mini tactical class drones in new variants, Warmate 20 loitering munition, and the extended-range Warmate 50. Warmate 20 has a range of “several hundred kilometers” and Warmate 50’s range exceeds that of Warmate 20, according to the company.
Remigiusz Wilk, the head of communications at WB Group, told Defense News that, since the war’s outbreak, the drone producer has observed a surge in interest in unmanned capabilities across the region.
“Drones are now considered an important protective measure for soldiers,” Wilk said. “When combined, they allow to create complex aerial systems.”
In the fighting between Ukraine against Russian invaders, sections of the front line have almost become devoid of human soldiers, with drones patrolling large swathes of land, ready to pounce on anything that moves.
“The more we push soldiers away from the battlefield and replace them with drones, the safer they are,” Wilk said. “Drones have the potential to protect many lives, and the military appreciates this now more than ever before.”
The Polish Armed Forces are showing an growing interest in buying new UAVs to develop their Drone Force, but WB Group is also using the company’s expanding manufacturing capabilities to unlock additional markets.
“WB Group is currently building new facilities to produce more drones,” the spokesman said, listing countries in Europe and Asia, including South Korea and Malaysia, as clients. “We have supplied drones to Ukraine’s military since 2015, so we are in an optimal position to draw lessons from the conflict and continue to enhance our unmanned systems to respond to the evolving battlefield requirements.”
At the same time, the Polish Drone Force will also comprise larger UAVs. In December 2024, the ministry signed a contract worth around $310 m to acquire an undisclosed number of MQ-9B Sky Guardian drones. The UAVs are to be delivered to Poland’s military by the first quarter of 2027. Meanwhile in Romania, the country’s economy minister, Bogdan Ivan, recently paid a visit to the factories of local drone manufacturers Carfil SA and IAR Ghimbav. During his visit to their facilities, Ivan announced Bucharest intends to use a significant portion of the European Union’s funds for defense acquisitions by member states to buy drones for Romania’s military. The Romanian minister was referring to the ReArm Europe plan, an initiative designed to bolster the EU’s defense expenditure and capacities. Mobilizing up to €800 bn ($906 bn) through various means, the program is to stimulate higher national defense budgets and finance a new loan instrument available to member states to facilitate equipment purchases. Romanian officials hope the rising domestic drone production capabilities will allow to ramp up the military’s unmanned capacities, but also enable local producers to sell a sizable share of their output abroad, according to the economy minister.
“When you have a production line that can make up to 3,500 drones annually, we will not only produce for the Romanian military,” Ivan said, as quoted by local daily Adevarul. (Source: Defense News)
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LAND:
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AIR;
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