In the new “DroneVation & Defence 2025” format, Militär Aktuell brought together almost 50 companies to present the latest drone and defense technologies, while top-class experts discussed the future of unmanned systems and their defense.
Militär Aktuell sent out a strong signal with the premiere of “DroneVation & Defense 2025” on September 23 in Vienna. Around 700 trade visitors from the military, industry, science and authorities took advantage of the newly created symposium to discuss the future of unmanned systems and the challenges of drone defense. More than 40 national and international companies presented their technologies and solutions, from large corporations to specialized niche providers.
On the exhibition area, Aaronia, Accurision, AIR6 Systems, Airlabs AustriaAustrian Institute of Technology, Alphacam, Beeta Technologies, Belassi, Counter Drone Technology/MyDefence, Destinus, Drei Bond GmbH, Diehl, Edge Group with Halcon, FH Wiener Neustadt, Frequentis, General AtomicsGlobe Flight, HensoldtHybrid Aerospace, IABG, IAV, Intec, Joanneum Research, Lockheed MartinLuftkraft Technologies, the Austrian Militia Association, Moodro Tech, ODM, Pankl, Pidso, Prirevo, Quantum SystemsRecon Europe, RheinmetallSafran, SchiebelSecuriton, Stark Defense, Strategy&, Tasmanian Tiger, Thales, the Theresian Military Academy, Trivion, TRL Drones, TTTech, Walaris, Will-Burt Germany and the Kyivskyi Alliance presented their latest developments.
The broad spectrum of drone sensor technology, unmanned platforms and defense systems through to software solutions and training concepts also made it clear how dynamically the subject area is developing and how closely technology, tactics and the legal framework are now interlinked.
After the welcome address by moderator Stefan Tesch and Militär Aktuell editor-in-chief Jürgen Zacharias, Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner addressed the participants via video message. Lieutenant General Harald Vodosek from the Austrian Armed Forces opened with a keynote speech. He covered everything from intercontinental missiles to the smallest drones and highlighted the range of current threats. His appeal was to take a broad view of defense, i.e. military, social and economic. As an orientation framework, he named the four core areas of reconnaissance, effect, command and protection, which guide the actions of armed forces and companies alike.
Major General Gerfried Promberger – Air Chief and Commander of the Austrian Armed Forces – made it clear that drones have long been at the heart of military planning. With a historical review, he recalled September 16, 1955, when Austria regained air sovereignty, and made a link to the present. The latest drone provocations at NATO-territory (-> Poland reports downing of Russian drones) have shown that delays of just a few hours can have serious consequences. Promberger pleaded for faster decision-making, shorter innovation cycles and a serious return to robust air defense that includes training, technology and procedures.
Matthias Diem and Thomas Bernhard from Rheinmetall Air Defense then showed how integrated protection concepts will protect the airspace of the future. Their presentation focused on a network of sensors, effectors and command and control equipment that quickly detects threats, classifies them correctly and combats them with pinpoint accuracy. The representatives described how a modular system design enables the integration of radar, electro-optical sensors, electronic jamming systems and guided missiles, thus realizing step-by-step increases in combat effectiveness. As a world premiere Rheinmetall had its Skyspotter system on show in Vienna.
The presentation by Peter McArdle from Lockheed Martin followed on from the topics covered previously and looked at the historical development of airborne collaboration in the age of artificial intelligence and autonomy. He led from the early work of the Skunk Works back to the D-21 from 1961, through the massive acceleration and increasing secrecy after the attacks of September 11, 2001, to today’s concepts of collaborative platforms. His presentation of how autonomy is shifting from central ground stations directly into the systems themselves was particularly impressive. The aim is not to replace manned aircraft, but to complement them. In this model, open reference architectures and flexible control options are seen as crucial building blocks to ensure consistent behavior while enabling the integration of multiple providers. With the Vectis platform, Lockheed Martin presented a concrete example of a viable multi-mission solution that combines reconnaissance, precision effectiveness and cooperation in contested airspace.
His theses made it clear that the drone era is not a new episode, but an evolution that has matured over decades. Autonomy must be thought of as interoperable, flexible control is crucial for the operational value, and in the long term it is about merging manned and unmanned systems.
The keynote speech by Stephan Kraschansky (Aaronia) was a particular focus. He impressively demonstrated how modern sensor technology and integrated systems are setting new standards in drone detection and defense. He made it clear that only flexible and scalable solutions are capable of detecting and reliably neutralizing the growing variety of threats at an early stage. Kraschansky also emphasized the central role of innovative technologies for the protection of critical infrastructures and the future of military deployment concepts. With his presentation, he not only provided concrete technological insights, but also valuable impetus for the further exchange of expertise at “DroneVation & Defense 2025”.
Afterwards, Colonel Markus Reisner from the Austrian Armed Forces and his three-man team focused on a topic related to the war in Ukraine. war in Ukraine has had a lasting impact: First-Person-View drones. The speakers made it clear that these inexpensive systems, which originally came from the hobby and racing scene, are changing the battlefield. While an FPV drone can be built for just a few hundred euros, it can be used to take out targets worth millions. According to estimates, up to 70 percent of damaged Russian vehicles in the Ukraine war can be attributed to such systems. Reisner emphasized that the Austrian Armed Forces are already integrating the construction and tactical use of FPV drones into officer training in order to familiarize future leaders with the opportunities and risks at an early stage. His team also presented the Counter UAS Tecla project, which is based on commercially available components and reliably detects drone signals.
Militär Aktuell Podcast #11: Markus Reisners Drohnenperspektiven
Reisner’s conclusion was clear: the real revolution lies not only in the technology, but in the cheapness of these systems. Innovation, often supported by the expertise of the militia, enables solutions with minimal resources. The next stage will be the integration of artificial intelligence, and it is crucial to introduce officers to this reality in good time.
Before the lunch break, Andreas von Stauffenberg from General Atomics rounded off the informative morning. He emphasized the role of Male drones as multi-mission capable systems that combine reconnaissance, surveillance and precise action in one platform. He attached particular importance to their ability to operate reliably even under adverse conditions and thus make a decisive contribution to the sustainability of modern armed forces.
The afternoon started with a panel on the topic of “Protecting critical infrastructure”. Under the moderation of Thomas Feßl from ARGE Sicherheit & Wirtschaft of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKÖ), Thomas Vahrner from the Cobra task force, Colonel Hannes Ring from the Austrian Armed Forces, Josef Bogensperger from Verbund and Marcel Lehner from Wiener Stadtwerke discussed the topic. It quickly became clear how great the legal uncertainties are: While Cobra can act on the basis of the Security Police Act, there is no corresponding basis in aviation law. For the Austrian Armed Forces, on the other hand, the possibilities in peacetime are limited, as Colonel Ring pointed out.
The operators also painted a difficult picture. Bogensperger made it clear that operators of critical infrastructure could often only call the police in an emergency. Lehner reported that Wiener Stadtwerke was already experimenting with fog solutions, but that these quickly reached their limits. A central monitoring unit for the entire airspace was called for, especially in large cities. The panel concluded that Austria is facing a significant protection gap that cannot be closed without new legislation, improved technical capabilities and closer cooperation between operators, the police and the military.
This was followed by two keynote speeches that broadened the view once again. Brigadier Erich Weissenböck from the Austrian Armed Forces described the ongoing capability development of unmanned systems in Austria, from training and organization to technology and deployment. Andreas Rupprecht from Harpia Publishing, on the other hand, drew the following picture under the title “From mass-produced goods to high-tech” China’s drone strategy and showed how the country has moved from standard commercial products to the development of highly specialized military systems in a very short space of time.
The second panel, which dealt with innovation cycles in the field of drones and drone defense, was a highlight in terms of content. Under the moderation of Jürgen Zacharias, editor-in-chief of Militär Aktuell, Brigadier Rudolf Zauner from the German Armed Forces, Eva-Maria Kern from the University of the German Armed Forces in Munich, Moritz Vischer from Visioneering GmbH and Josef Kranawetvogl from Stark discussed the topic. The panel clearly highlighted the areas of tension: short innovation cycles versus conservative procurement processes. Kern referred to the role of basic research and universities, Vischer emphasized the speed and willingness of start-ups to take risks, Kranawetvogl stressed the need to adapt to immediate user feedback, and Zauner warned that innovation must take place in an orderly fashion. There was agreement that only the interaction between the military, industry and science can have a lasting effect.
The coffee break was followed by a dense block of specialist presentations. Colonel Thomas Kettinger from the Austrian Armed Forces spoke about the introduction of “Drones 2.0”, Colonel Klaus Stutzmann from the German Armed Forces spoke about the further development of drone defense, Daniela Hildenbrand from Hensoldt presented the Elysion system, which has been tried and tested for years, and Thibault Karablin from Thales explained the precision of 70-millimeter missiles for UAVs, Susanne Winderl from IABG showed the current challenges of C-UAS systems, Fabian Ochsner from Halcon/Edge Group presented Sky Knight as an integrated protection solution and Nick Reiff from PwC concluded with the concept of “C-UAS as a Service”.
Afterwards, Austria’s Chief of Armaments, Lieutenant General Harald Vodosek, and Bernhard Müller from PwC discussed the future viability of procurement. Vodosek emphasized the further development of existing structures, while Müller advocated as-a-service models that shift the technology risk to industry and ensure continuous modernization.
Although the networking evening was already open, the auditorium remained full when Jürgen Zacharias Lieutenant Colonel Rüdiger Rauch from the German Armed Forces onto the stage for a kind of fireside chat as the last item on the program. Rauch described the speed of current developments as a “dreadnought moment”, a complete transformation of the battlefield that encompasses air, land and sea in equal measure. He advocated a multi-layered approach to drone defense and warned against fighting cheap drones with overpriced missiles.
His conclusion on “DroneVation & Defense”: an event that is equally valuable due to its breadth and depth and has the potential to establish itself in the security policy calendar.
Click here for more reports and interviews about “DroneVation & Defense 2025”:
- Interview with Robin Deutsch from Airlabs.
- Interview with two Schiebel representatives (Michael Hofstätter and Nikolaus Weihs).
- Interview with Matthias Diem from Rheinmetall about the world premiere of the Skyspotter drone defense system.
- Summary of a panel discussion on the subject of procurement cycles.
Here to our drone topic area with all the latest news on the subject.
