Define standards, create platforms, and produce in large volumes.
In his speech at the joint opening of XPONENTIAL Europe and the EUROPEAN DRONE FORUM, Dr. Gerald Wissel already emphasized the need to establish sufficiently large manufacturing capacities for unmanned aircraft systems in Europe. “Without industrial production, without standardized platforms, and without professional maintenance and spare parts logistics, UAS operations will remain too costly, too vulnerable, and ultimately unprofitable,” clarified the CEO of UAV DACH.
In an in-depth interview with Handelsblatt, Dr. Gerald Wissel explained why economic and operational reliability—combined with predictable costs and robust supply chains—is a critical factor in the development of a strong European UAS industry. He also highlighted why the future technology of unmanned aviation represents a genuine opportunity, particularly for the struggling automotive and supplier industries.
Among other things, he emphasized the advantages of standardized platforms that can be manufactured cost-effectively in large quantities and adapted to different mission profiles through customized payload and software solutions. The military and the civilian sector must jointly develop the relevant standards and interfaces to lay the groundwork for efficient mass production of UAS in Europe using European components.
The full Handelsblatt article can be read here (German language / paywall)