Germany and US to join efforts to develop unified drone operations software for Ukrainian Armed Forces

Germany's largest defence company, Rheinmetall, is partnering with the American software developer Auterion to create software enabling Ukraine's Armed Forces to standardise the control of various drone types.

Source: Financial Times

Details: As part of this partnership, Rheinmetall will integrate its drones with an operating system developed by Auterion. This will establish a common architecture for drones from different manufacturers. According to Lorenz Meier, CEO of Auterion, the use of a single standard will ensure effective interoperability between autonomous systems.

The Financial Times reports that the Auterion operating system is already being used in Ukrainian drones.

Maier noted that the transition from manned to unmanned systems required compatibility between them and emphasised that a common standard would allow all drones to be integrated into a unified architecture.

The cooperation holds strategic significance for NATO, as Maier pointed out that individual communication standards for drones used by each member state would complicate joint military operations. Rheinmetall and Auterion expressed hope that their initiative would support the adoption of a unified standard among the allies.

Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has significantly galvanised the development of drones and autonomous systems. There are currently more than 200 different models of drones in use in Ukraine, though their interaction and training are costly.

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