What role will unmanned systems play in the future of alliance and national defence? What lessons can Europe learn from Ukraine’s extensive use of drones? And above all: How can manufacturing capacities be built up to enable rapid production while simultaneously responding efficiently to technological developments? These and other questions were the focus of the “New Age Defence” event held in Hangar 6 of the historic Tempelhof Airport in Berlin.
Strengthening the European UAS industry is the central focus of UAV DACH. Building resilient supply chains and creating industrial production capacities are essential prerequisites for the commercial use of unmanned aerial systems to fully gain momentum across Europe. In this context, it is advisable to give equal consideration to civilian applications as well as dual-use and military use scenarios.
Already during XPONENTIAL Europe 2026 in Düsseldorf, UAV DACH had organized a roundtable discussion on strengthening industrial production capacities with representatives from 25 leading companies in the drone industry. The event was hosted by Fleet Admiral Christian Bock, head of the German Armed Forces’ Innovation Center in Erding. At the conclusion of the event, a memorandum of understanding was signed to collaborate on establishing the framework conditions necessary to achieve the target of producing more than 100,000 units per year of drones and drone defense systems by 2027.