SOFIA, Bulgaria / TAUFKIRCHEN, Germany : German defense technology company Hensoldt and Bulgarian unmanned aircraft manufacturer Dronamics on Wednesday announced a strategic partnership to develop and produce a fully European unmanned airborne early warning and surveillance platform.
The new system, named Dronamics Detect & Defend, integrates Dronamics’ long-range Black Swan unmanned aircraft with Hensoldt’s advanced mission sensor technologies. The companies describe the platform as a “100 percent made in Europe” solution designed to strengthen sovereign airspace monitoring and multi-domain threat detection capabilities.
Platform Overview
The Detect & Defend system is configured as a Strategic NATO Class III Unmanned Aerial System (UAS). It is intended to provide Airborne Early Warning (AEW) and Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) capabilities across air, land and maritime domains.
According to the companies, the platform is designed to address national security capability gaps by enabling persistent monitoring, detection and targeting of multi-domain threats. The system architecture supports continuous operations and multi-mission deployment within a single sortie.
Airframe: Black Swan UAV
The aerial component of the platform is based on Dronamics’ Black Swan UAV, originally engineered for long-range cargo logistics and civil protection operations.
Key specifications include:
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Endurance: More than 24 hours of continuous flight
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Range: 2,500 kilometers
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Payload Capacity: Up to 350 kilograms
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Wingspan: 16 meters
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Fuselage Length: 8 meters
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Maximum Operating Altitude: Up to 9,100 meters
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Cruising Speed: Approximately 200 kilometers per hour
The aircraft’s endurance and payload capacity allow integration of multiple surveillance and sensor systems. The platform is configured for heavy-lift, long-range operations while maintaining operational flexibility.
Dronamics, recognized as Europe’s first licensed cargo drone airline, developed the Black Swan initially for commercial logistics missions. The company is co-funded by the European Union under the European Innovation Council programme and is expanding into the defense sector through this collaboration.
Sensor and Mission Systems: MissionGrid Suite
Hensoldt provides the sensor integration and mission systems under its MissionGrid architecture, converting the cargo-configured UAV into a multi-mission surveillance platform.
The payload suite includes:
PrecISR Radar System
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A compact Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) airborne multi-mission surveillance radar
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Designed for 24-hour operation
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All-weather operational capability
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Multi-domain surveillance performance
MissMarvin Mission Management Software
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Integrated mission control and management system
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Works alongside onboard data fusion tools
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Enables coordinated use of multiple sensor inputs
The scalable system architecture supports integration of radar and electro-optical sensors, allowing a single aircraft to execute multiple ISTAR roles during one deployment cycle.
Hensoldt specializes in sensor solutions for defense and security applications across air, sea, land and cyber domains and continues investment in software-defined defense architectures to enhance interoperability and system flexibility.
Deployment Focus and Demonstration Timeline
Initial demonstrations of the joint solution are scheduled to take place later in 2026.
Following successful demonstrations, operational deployment is expected to prioritize regions identified as critical to European security, including:
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Europe’s Eastern Flank
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The Mediterranean Sea
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The Atlantic Ocean
The companies state that the system is intended to address coverage gaps in national and regional airspace monitoring, supporting NATO-aligned security requirements.
Executive Statements
Dietmar Thelen, Member of Hensoldt’s Group Executive Committee and Head of the Multi-Domain Solutions Division, said the partnership focuses on delivering integrated airborne solutions to close operational capability gaps and enhance European security, particularly along the Eastern Flank. He noted that the project reflects progress in software-defined defense development.
Svilen Rangelov, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Dronamics, stated that the Detect & Defend system builds on the company’s tested drone platform. He emphasized the aircraft’s endurance exceeding 24 hours and its payload integration flexibility as key enablers for advanced defense applications, and highlighted collaboration with Hensoldt to leverage European aerospace technologies.
Strategic Significance
The Detect & Defend platform represents a joint initiative to deliver a fully European-built airborne early warning and surveillance system at a time when European states are increasing investment in sovereign defense capabilities.
By combining long-endurance unmanned flight, AESA radar technology, and integrated mission software, the system is positioned to provide persistent airborne surveillance coverage across multiple operational theaters without reliance on non-European suppliers.
Demonstration activities later this year will determine the timeline for operational fielding and potential procurement by European defense customers.
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