German defence electronics firm HENSOLDT and Bulgarian cargo drone maker Dronamics have completed flight demonstrations of what they describe as Europe’s first unmanned airborne early warning system, integrating HENSOLDT’s full ISTAR sensor suite on a full-scale Dronamics Black Swan UAV.

The HENSOLDT MissionGrid sensor suite, which includes the MissMarvin mission management software, PrecISR radar and Argos electro-optical sensor, was integrated, test-flown and validated aboard the Black Swan and then demonstrated in flight before representatives of armed forces and government operators, with the companies reporting significant customer interest.

HENSOLDT’s MDOcore software suite was also flown as part of the demonstration, providing secure real-time cross-domain networking in support of multi-domain operations scenarios. The companies said this marks the first time the full MissionGrid package has been demonstrated on an unmanned platform in a fully integrated configuration.

Mission sets covered during the demonstrations included air-to-ground detection and tracking of moving vehicles and stationary assets, geolocation, and air-to-maritime detection of vessels on the Danube river.

The two companies said they intend to continue their collaboration toward operational deployment, with a stated focus on addressing security requirements along Europe’s Eastern Flank and the Black Sea region. The partnership targets the NATO Class III UAV category for strategic surveillance, including detection of low-flying targets, positioning the platform as a lower-cost alternative to manned airborne warning and control systems.

Source: HENSOLDT. Read the original (published 2026-11-10).