innovation - Insights from Across Europe’s Drone Ecosystem (Page 2)

A Nokia-branded drone flying equipped with a battery pack over a landscape.

industry

Nokia boosts 5G drone platform with Amprius SiCore batteries

Nokia is integrating Amprius SiCore silicon‑anode batteries into its 5G drone platform to extend endurance and payload for commercial and government missions.

A small drone flying over a snow-covered Alpine slope near a ski area.

eu

French Alpine drones forecast avalanches to protect skiers

French Alpine drones monitor snowpack and forecast avalanches to warn ski operators and protect skiers.

Solar-powered drone hangar with Dryad observation and suppression drones preparing to launch over forested terrain.

dach

Autonomous system detects and suppresses wildfires within 12 minutes

Dryad Networks demonstrated a system where solar-powered gas sensors detected smouldering combustion in three minutes and autonomous drones extinguished the fire within twelve minutes.

Mixed‑reality headset alongside military training hardware illustrating a Rheinmetall–Varjo training partnership.

industry

Rheinmetall and Varjo partner to enhance mixed‑reality defence training

Rheinmetall and Finnish Varjo announced a strategic collaboration to integrate Varjo’s military‑grade mixed‑reality technology into Rheinmetall’s training and simulation products.

industry

Drone Events 2026: What the Industry Expects from the 'Ideal' Drone Event

Drone Industry Insights' white paper finds the 'ideal' 2026 drone event combines live flight demonstrations, regulatory workshops and curated B2B matchmaking to accelerate commercial adoption.

A small quadcopter drone flying above a test range with a military interceptor system in the distance.

dach

Germany tests faster, smarter interceptors for small-drone threats

Germany is testing faster, autonomous interceptors to defeat small drones and integrate them into national and allied air-defence networks.

A quadcopter-style drone spraying crops over a farm field with mountains in the background.

industry

Beyond photography: delivery, spraying and tracking rise for 2026

Delivery, spraying and tracking are emerging as the fastest-growing commercial drone applications, each capturing 5–7% of operations as photography declines.

FPV quadcopter being deployed from a transport aircraft cargo ramp during an aerial test.

defense

France Drops FPV Drones from A400M; Fixed‑Wing Seen as Better Option

France tested dropping FPV quadcopters from an A400M transport aircraft but analysts argue fixed-wing drones would provide greater range, endurance, and survivability.

defense

Orqa Initiates FPV Training Integration for Croatian Armed Forces

Orqa begins 'train the trainer' FPV drone programs for the Croatian Army to institutionalize tactical UAV skills.

Fotokite Sigma+ tethered drone deployed from a vehicle rooftop box providing aerial surveillance during an emergency response.

industry

Fotokite launches Sigma+ tethered drone with 24‑hour flight and IR+640

Fotokite launched Sigma+, an upgraded tethered aerial system offering up to 24 hours continuous flight, improved GPS for urban environments, IP55 weather protection and optional 640×480 radiometric thermal imaging to enhance public safety situational awareness.

A fixed-wing drone releasing seed capsules over degraded tropical forest canopy during a reforestation mission.

innovation

How drones can scale reforestation of the world's major forests

Drone-based seeding and remote sensing can accelerate large-scale reforestation by improving access and monitoring, but long-term success requires appropriate species selection, follow-up care and local partnerships.

Parry Labs mission module alongside an AV P550 unmanned aircraft, illustrating a MOSA-based mission system integration.

industry

Parry Labs Advances Modular Mission Systems in AV’s P550 for Army LRR

Parry Labs integrated its mission computing and MOSA-based architecture into AV's P550 to support the US Army's LRR programme.