European defence fund Strenghtening Europe’s drone capabilities with ALTISS and SMEs

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ALTISS, funded by the European Defence Fund, is developing a Europe-built ISR drone solution: rapid detection, COMINT/optical sensing, and autonomous swarms to improve protection and enable faster decisions.

Selected under the European Defence Fund 2021 call, ALTISS brings together a consortium led by Magellium SAS, a European small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) with strong expertise in image processing, software and scientific engineering, operating in both civil and military sectors, and three other companies : Sagax, Radionor, and M3S Belgium.

The project highlights the key role that SMEs play in strengthening the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB), which is a key priority for the EU, including through the EDF. SMEs must bring their expertise innovation for Europe to be able to build a future-ready defence sector.

Contributing to building Europe’s critical capabilities

In a rapidly changing security environment, drones are increasingly used in warfare and hybrid attacks. Building drone and counter-drone capabilities have been identified as critical to protect the Union from such threats. ALTISS directly supports this objective by providing advanced intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems (ISR), made in Europe.

Europe’s security landscape is changing rapidly

As defence budgets rise and EU programmes expand, civil technology providers are becoming vital contributors to Europe’s strategic autonomy. The event will act as a neutral platform for dialogue between technology suppliers, integrators, and decision-makers shaping the next generation of European defence capabilities and aims to open doors between civil industry and defence procurement, providing practical insights.

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Key characteristics of ALTISS and how it enhances force protection

ALTISS uses advanced technology to improve how drones communicate and fly, process images, and automatically detect events of interest. The project has three main features that make it especially valuable:

Fast detection and target identification

ALTISS is built around operational needs, focusing on fast detection and identification of targets over large areas. Its software, sensors, and drone integration minimise the time from first detection to actionable information, while maintaining wide coverage and long endurance. The system carries two complementary payloads: a 360° high-resolution optical sensor covering capable of detecting very small objects, and a compact Communications Intelligence (COMINT) payload for radio detection and geolocation.

Autonomous swarm operations

ALTISS is built for autonomous swarm missions, moving beyond the traditional “one drone – one pilot – one payload operator” model. A single operator can oversee the entire swarm supported by AI-assisted mission planning and dynamic task allocation tools. Onboard processing and automatic event detection allow the operator to focus on decision-making, rather than continuous monitoring.

Coordinating radio signal and images

ALTISS combines radio signal detection with visual and infrared imaging. When the system detects an important radio transmission, it automatically directs the camera to focus on that source, while onboard image analytics refine localisation and classification. This quick link between signal and image improves target identification and helps operators make faster, more reliable decisions.

ALTISS marks a major step forward, moving from individually operated drones to an autonomous, integrated system designed to deliver measurable results across the full ISR chain. This project demonstrates the strength of European defence cooperation and how it helps Europe achieve defence readiness to protect its citizens.