Strengthening European drone capabilities with ALTISS under the European Defence Fund

The European Defence Fund (EDF) project Highly Automated Swarm of Affordable Long-Endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for Force Protection (ALTISS) was successfully completed in December 2025. 

A consortium led by SMEs

Selected in the European Defence Fund 2021 call for proposals , ALTISS brings together a consortium led by Magellium SAS, a European small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) with solid experience in image processing, software and scientific engineering, operating in both the civil and military sectors, and three other companies: Sagax, Radionor and M3S Belgium.

The project highlights the fundamental role that SMEs play in strengthening the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB), a key priority for the EU, including through the EDF. SMEs must bring their expertise and innovation to Europe to build a defence sector that is fit for the future.

Contributing to the development of Europe’s critical capabilities 

In an ever-changing security environment, drones are increasingly being used in wars and hybrid attacks. The development of drone control and counter-drone capabilitieshas been identified as crucial to protecting the Union from these threats.ALTISS directly supports this objective by providing advanced intelligence,  surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) systems manufactured in Europe. 

Key features of ALTISS and how it improves force protection 

ALTISS uses advanced technology to improvedrone communication and flight, process images and automatically detect events of interest. The project has three main features that make it particularly valuable:

1. Rapid detection and identification of targets 

ALTISS was designed with operational needs in mind, focusing on rapid target detection and identification over large areas. Its software, sensors and integration with drones minimise the time from initial detection to obtaining actionable information, while maintaining wide coverage and long endurance. The system incorporates two complementary payloads: a high-resolution 360° optical sensor capable of detecting very small objects, and a compact Communications Intelligence (COMINT) payload for radio detection and geolocation.

2. Autonomous swarm operations

ALTISS is designed for autonomous swarm missions, surpassing the traditional model of “one drone, one pilot and one payload operator”. A single operator can oversee the entire swarm with the support of AI-assisted mission planning tools and dynamic task assignment. Integrated processing and automatic event detection allow the operator to focus on decision-making rather than continuous monitoring. 

3. Coordination of radio signals and images 

ALTISS combines radio signal detection with visual and infrared imagery. When the system detects an important radio transmission, it automatically directs the camera to focus on it, while integrated image analysis refines the location and classification. This rapid connection between signal and image improves target identification and helps operators make faster and more reliable decisions.

ALTISS marks a major step forward, moving from individually operated drones to an autonomous, integrated system designed to deliver measurable results across the entire ISR chain.

This project demonstrates the strength of European cooperation in defence and how it helps Europe achieve defence readiness to protect its citizens.

About the European Defence Fund

Since its launch, the European Commission has invested nearly €6.5 billion in defence research and development, making the EU one of the world’s leading investors in defence. The Fund has a total budget of nearly €7.3 billion for the period 2021-2027.

More information: European Commission.