We develop sovereign European combat and intelligence platforms that are fully designed, manufactured, and supported within Europe.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
European defense forces rely on foreign‑origin combat and intelligence aircraft, creating dependency on external supply chains, limited auditability of software, and reduced resilience in contested, electronically denied environments.
Solution
Kalkan Defense Systems delivers a family of sovereign European air platforms— the Strigoi high‑subsonic UCAV, the Corvus tactical reconnaissance UAV, and the Vultur high‑altitude long‑endurance ISR aircraft— all built on a common, source‑available autonomy stack. Each airframe is designed, manufactured, and supported within Europe, using audited supply chains and encrypted mesh communications to ensure secure, low‑latency sensor‑to‑actuator performance in contested airspace. The shared autonomy layer provides consistent mission‑level AI, GPS‑denied navigation, and interoperable command via the Zalmoxis ground system, enabling rapid deployment and coordinated operations across strike, reconnaissance, and persistent surveillance roles. By integrating low‑observable designs, internal weapons bays, modular payload bays, and high‑bandwidth SATCOM relays, the platforms offer scalable, millisecond‑scale response capabilities while maintaining full auditability for European customers.
Target Audience
Primary customers are European defense ministries, NATO‑aligned air forces, and allied intelligence agencies seeking sovereign, interoperable combat and ISR aircraft that can be deployed rapidly and operated in contested environments.
Features
- Common on‑board intelligence (SAI) stack with source‑available software, allowing customers to audit and verify autonomous decision logic
- Encrypted mesh communications linking all platforms to the Zalmoxis command network for secure, low‑latency data exchange
- Strigoi UCAV: Mach 0.95 high‑subsonic performance, internal 1,800 kg weapons bay, low radar‑cross‑section shaping, AESA radar integration
- Corvus UAV: 10–12 hour endurance, low‑signature airframe, modular EO/IR, LiDAR, and SIGINT payloads, GPS‑denied navigation using inertial, visual, and terrain‑relative positioning
- Vultur HALE ISR: 20 m wingspan, 12,500 m ceiling, 24+ hour loiter, multi‑sensor suite (SAR, EO/IR, SIGINT) and high‑bandwidth SATCOM relay to extend command range
- European‑only design, manufacturing, and support chain audited by Kalkan, with airframe assembly partnered with Avioane Craiova
- Millisecond‑scale sensor‑to‑actuator latency across all platforms, optimized for contested airspace where reaction time is critical