German Defence Industry HENSOLDT and AVILUS form strategic partnership to advance sovereign UAV solutions made in Germany

German sensor specialist HENSOLDT and UAV manufacturer AVILUS have announced a strategic partnership to jointly develop and market advanced unmanned aerial systems equipped with state-of-the-art sensor and ISR technologies. The collaboration strengthens Germany’s sovereign capabilities in unmanned flight by combining HENSOLDT’s leading sensor expertise with AVILUS’s agile UAV platforms.

HENSOLDT and AVILUS have entered into a strategic partnership to develop and market next-generation UAV platforms featuring advanced sensor and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. The cooperation focuses on scalable, high-performance systems designed and produced entirely in Germany to serve both military and civilian applications.

By integrating HENSOLDT’s advanced sensor technologies – including an electro-optical high-performance system, the AMPS-M self-protection suite and the PrecISR radar – with AVILUS’s innovative mission management software MissMarvin, the partners aim to deliver flexible UAV platforms that provide real-time situational awareness and operational resilience.

Christina Canitz, Head of Division Optronics at HENSOLDT, said: “With AVILUS we have an agile UAV specialist at our side that brings our state-of-the-art sensor solutions to full effect. Together we are strengthening technological sovereignty and ensuring short paths from development to operational readiness – building a capable and resilient UAV competence in Germany.”

AVILUS CEO Ernst Rittinghaus added: “AVILUS closes capability gaps in casualty evacuation, logistics and reconnaissance with robust, unmanned flight systems. Our focus is on operational proximity, reliability and rapid availability. Working closely with HENSOLDT allows us to combine our platforms with cutting-edge sensor technology, creating direct added value for forces in the field.”

The electro-optical system combines HD thermal, color/low-light, SWIR and wide-angle cameras, all operating simultaneously and stabilized by a four-axis gimbal. Supported by multispectral sensors and AI-driven real-time processing, the system detects, classifies and tracks multiple objects with exceptional precision.

The AMPS-M self-protection system integrates up to 16 intelligent countermeasure dispensers and multiple threat warning sensors, offering protection against missile, laser and radar attacks. Modular and low-maintenance, it builds on a proven track record of more than 700 systems in service worldwide and thousands of flight hours in NATO cooperation.

The PrecISR radar, a software-defined X-band AESA system, can simultaneously detect and track over 1,000 ground, sea and air targets at long range and in all weather conditions. The ITAR-free system is scalable and easy to integrate into different UAV platforms.

With certification from the German Federal Aviation Office for civilian flight operations and the “company-owned, company-operated” model, the UAV platforms can be deployed for diverse missions, including disaster relief, critical infrastructure monitoring and border security.

The partnership aligns with HENSOLDT’s “Software Defined Defence” strategy, which focuses on developing modular, data-driven and software-based defence systems through targeted collaboration. Initial demonstrations and pilot projects are already being prepared, aiming to set new national and international standards in unmanned ISR capabilities.