The increasing threat posed by unauthorized and hostile drones continues to elevate the importance of counter-UAS (c-UAS) technology across Europe. This urgency was at the heart of the event held at Technische Universität München AFTC in Munich-Oberpfaffenhofen, hosted by bavAIRia e.V., under the motto: “Gefahr für Wirtschaft und Infrastruktur – Drohnen erkennen und abwehren” (“Threat to Economy and Infrastructure – Detecting and Countering Drones”).

Among the key contributors was Alpine Eagle, presenting its advanced airborne c-UAS system, Sentinel, to a highly engaged audience of policymakers, end users, industry innovators, and technology suppliers. The event demonstrated not only the accelerating evolution of c-UAS technologies but also the growing collaborative mindset within the community.

High-Level Engagement: Introducing Sentinel

A highlight of the day was the direct exchange between Alpine Eagle’s Director Engineer Dr.-Ing. Klaus Kittmann, the Alpine Eagle team, and Bavarian Secretary of Economy Hubert Aiwanger. This interaction provided a platform to explain the operational concept, technical advantages, and mission relevance of Sentinel, Alpine Eagle’s airborne counter-UAS solution.

Sentinel stands out by elevating c-UAS operations into the air, where detection, classification, and engagement capability benefit from a wide-area observational advantage. As drone threats become more dynamic and multi-vector, airborne systems like Sentinel fill critical gaps that static, ground-based systems cannot always cover.

Dr. Kittmann and the Alpine Eagle team highlighted how Sentinel integrates:

• Airborne surveillance and detection, enabling wide-area situational awareness
• Flexible deployment profiles, suitable for urban, industrial, and critical infrastructure protection
• Modular sensor architectures for layered defense
• Multi-domain interoperability, allowing Sentinel to operate alongside ground-based and electronic countermeasure systems

This capability reflects Alpine Eagle’s philosophy: no single system provides full protection—true security emerges from combined, multi-layered defenses.

A Growing and Evolving c-UAS Community

Beyond official presentations, the event fostered enriching discussions among end users, system innovators, technology suppliers, and operators. Participants exchanged observations about new threat patterns, regulatory challenges, operational requirements, and integration strategies.

The c-UAS field is expanding rapidly as drone misuse evolves—from espionage and unauthorized surveillance to criminal activity and attacks on critical assets. In this environment, collaboration is essential. While competition drives innovation, the community recognizes that defending airspace requires interoperability, information sharing, and complementary system architectures.

The event underscored several consensus points:

• Threat diversity requires diverse countermeasures.
  No single system—whether radar, RF detection, jamming, optics, or airborne platforms—can address all threat vectors alone.
• Airborne systems are becoming indispensable.
  They offer altitude, mobility, and coverage that strengthen the defensive network.
• Public–private partnerships are key.
  Political engagement, such as the presence of Secretary Aiwanger, signals growing governmental focus on airspace security.

Airborne c-UAS: Retaking the Skies

Alpine Eagle’s participation reinforced its role at the forefront of airborne counter-UAS innovation. Sentinel embodies the company’s belief in restoring control over the low-altitude airspace where drones increasingly operate—airspace that must be secured to protect national economies, critical infrastructure, and public safety.

The company’s mission, “Retaking the Skies,” reflects both technological ambition and operational responsibility. By pushing airborne c-UAS capabilities forward, Alpine Eagle is helping shape a safer, more resilient future for European airspace security.

Looking Ahead

As threats evolve and demand for reliable c-UAS solutions grows, Alpine Eagle remains committed to innovation, collaboration, and the development of advanced airborne systems that complement the wider ecosystem of defensive technologies.

The Munich event demonstrated an important truth: the future of airspace protection depends on collective effort, shared expertise, and diverse solutions that work together seamlessly.

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