What started in a student room in Enschede has, within a year, become a frontline supplier of combat drones. Dutch drone startup Hyllus Systems, founded by Albin Sela, has delivered nearly 400 optical-fiber tethered drones to Ukrainian units since October. These drones — immune to electronic jamming — are controlled via fiber-optic cable up to 10 km and can carry payloads of approximately 4.5 kg, enough to destroy armored vehicles at a production cost of around €2,000 per drone.

Hyllus's rapid growth is driven by direct collaboration with users on the battlefield. Rather than developing products in isolation, the company works in close feedback loops with Ukrainian brigades, including elite units, to rapidly prototype and iterate drone models in cycles as short as three weeks. This model allows them to quickly adapt to the dynamic requirements of modern warfare.

The company has set an ambitious goal: to scale up production to 10,000 drones per month by the end of the year. This would represent a significant shift in drone supply capability and reinforce Ukraine’s ability to sustain intensive drone operations across various regions.

Hyllus operates without venture capital, relying instead on direct contracts and revenue from deliveries. The team remains lean — about 19 people — consisting of engineers, military veterans, and technology experts. Though their production and design are based in the Netherlands, their impact is felt on the front lines of one of the world’s most active conflict zones.

The core product, the HS-2, is designed for tactical reliability. It uses a fiber-optic tether to maintain stable communications in environments where GPS and radio signals are often jammed. This approach gives Hyllus drones a significant operational edge, allowing them to remain effective in electronically contested environments while staying affordable and easily deployable.

Unlike traditional defense contractors, Hyllus embraces a startup mindset — focusing on speed, adaptability, and user-driven innovation. The team believes that military technology should be shaped by those who use it, not by distant boardrooms or lengthy procurement cycles. This philosophy has enabled them to bypass traditional R&D timelines and instead iterate directly with battlefield operators.

While the company has found a strong customer base abroad, entering domestic and broader European markets remains a challenge. However, the team sees potential in civilian and homeland security applications, given the drones’ versatility, cost-efficiency, and resilience in harsh environments.

Hyllus Systems is a powerful example of what’s possible when technical innovation meets urgent real-world demand. From modest beginnings in a student dormitory to supplying hundreds of drones for a major European conflict, the company is redefining the role of startups in defense. And with plans to reach mass production levels, they are well on their way to becoming one of Europe’s most impactful drone suppliers.

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