Keynotes

Coming soon

The rapid proliferation of low-cost, easily accessible drones has transformed the security and defense landscape. Recent conflicts have demonstrated how unmanned systems can provide air superiority and long-range strike capabilities at a fraction of the cost of conventional military assets. This asymmetry creates major challenges for Counter-UAS (C-UAS) systems, which must remain effective, sustainable, and scalable against evolving threats.

Designing efficient C-UAS architectures requires a comprehensive understanding of drone technologies, their potential evolution, and their impact on detection, information management, and neutralization capabilities. These architectures must also operate in contested environments characterized by GNSS denial, electronic warfare, operational constraints, and regulatory requirements.

Drawing on ONERA’s expertise, instrumented drone fleet, test facilities, and multidisciplinary research laboratories, this presentation reviews key drone threat trends, associated risks, and ongoing research efforts aimed at reducing vulnerabilities. Operational examples, including the DIAMOND drone-track fusion algorithm and the SAP system deployed during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, illustrate the transition from research to fielded capabilities.

The highlight of the ANR “STRAD” (STReet Art Drone) project was the autonomous creation in July 2025 of a 5 m x 15 m outdoor mural by an aerial manipulator with centimeter-level precision. A world first. This achievement is the result of a four-year collaboration by a unique consortium comprising the ICube laboratory in Strasbourg, the Gipsa-lab in Grenoble, the company Polyvionics in Paris, and the Spacejunk association in Grenoble, which organizes Europe’s largest street art festival, the “Street Art Fest Grenoble Alpes.” This presentation will tell the story of this unique project at the intersection of science and art, from its inception to the completion of the final mural as part of the Street Art Fest 2025.

Fixed-wing drones powered by an electric motor can only achieve limited flight times due to the intrinsically low-energy density of current Lithium batteries. On-board hydrogen can dramatically extend flight times if properly combined with efficiently designed fuel cells. More over, the use of cryogenic hydrogen can allow to even more energy density if the airplane consumption is properly adapted to the tank natural boil-off rate. While crossing the Atlantic Ocean (3000 km) with an electric fixed-wing aircraft equipped with Lithium cells is impossible at any take-off weight, that task is feasible for a liquid hydrogen-powered drone of less than 15 kg. In addition to that, taking advantage of wind gradients could further extend the maximum range of drones with the objectives of staying airborne during several days. The presentation will finally discuss the use of a Lidar Doppler in view of take advantage of atmospheric disturbances.

Delair was founded in 2011 by Michaël de Lagarde, Benjamin Benharrosh, Benjamin Michel, and Bastien Mancini, and quickly became a pioneer in professional UAV systems. In 2012, its DT18 became the first drone certified in France for BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) operations, marking a major milestone for the company and the industry.

Over the years, Delair expanded through strategic acquisitions and partnerships, including Airware (and its subsidiary Redbird), Gatewing from Trimble, and collaborations with Intel and international distributors. The company also supplied drones for defense and surveillance applications, notably in Ukraine, and strengthened its presence in both civilian and military markets.

More recently, Delair has become a key actor in European defense drone programs, working with partners such as KNDS and MBDA on loitering munitions and tactical UAVs. Its systems, including the DT-46 and new hybrid platforms, are now used by French armed forces and other security actors, reflecting its shift toward high-performance dual-use technologies and autonomous systems.

This presentation examines the integration of Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology within robot swarms, outlining its operational capabilities and the technical phases of implementation.
The keynote will address the following key areas:
-Dynamic Infrastructure: An analysis of the operational viability and implications of using moving or flying anchors instead of static reference points.
-UWB Capabilities: An overview of UWB performance specifications for multi-agent coordination.
-Positioning Techniques: An evaluation of standard UWB localization architectures, specifically RTDOA, TDOA, and TWR.
-Technical Challenges: A review of obstacles in real-world deployment, focusing on clock synchronization, multipath mitigation, time-slot allocation, and error characterization in sensor fusion.