Virtus loitering munitions from German company Stark and Vector reconnaissance UAVs from Quantum Systems have been integrated into a single AI-supported swarm via the Minerva command and control system. According to Stark, relevant tests are currently underway under the auspices of the Bundeswehr.
In the video, the company also demonstrated four Virtus drones taking off in sequence, each featuring multicolored stripes used for identification by machine vision algorithms.
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"The focus of the trials was the integration of reconnaissance drones, software, and loitering munitions into a recce-strike operation, in order to significantly reduce the time between detection and engagement," the statement reads.
At the same time, the results of these tests have already "demonstrated the systems' reliable performance in battlefield conditions." It was also announced that the project's goal is to provide the Bundeswehr with these new scalable capabilities as early as 2027.
At the same time, this is important for Ukraine because both Virtus loitering munitions and Vector reconnaissance drones are being supplied to the Ukrainian military. Moreover, both companies, Stark and Quantum Systems, have offices in Ukraine and are actively operating there. In particular, the Vector is manufactured locally in Ukraine. This means the likelihood of such a swarm system appearing in the Ukrainian Armed Forces is quite high.
In general, the concept behind the development is to create a unified combat system that uses artificial intelligence to autonomously detect and classify targets and assign weapons that also operate autonomously and in close coordination with one another. In other words, such a swarm becomes a reconnaissance and strike unit.
The Stark Virtus is designed to engage military equipment and is equipped with a 5-kg warhead. It has a cruising speed of 120 km/h and a maximum speed of up to 250 km/h. Its loitering time is one hour, and its operational range is approximately 100 km, with guaranteed target destruction even without communication with the operator, as the drone is designed for autonomous operation.
In turn, the latest version of the Vector from Quantum Systems, which features vertical takeoff and landing, has a control range of over 60 km and an endurance of over 180 minutes. A camera with 44x zoom is responsible for target detection, and the drone can also be equipped with acoustic sensors for faster detection of artillery. It is claimed to be capable of operating in conditions of heavy interference and without satellite navigation.
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