Qognifly builds AI‑enabled autonomous fixed‑wing UAVs that combine surveillance, patrol, and interception into a reusable aerial defense network. Their modular drones use onboard perception, radar and optical sensors with proprietary AI to detect, track and engage threats without human intervention, reducing the cost per intercept to under $50 k. The systems provide persistent border and perimeter security while delivering high‑resolution ISR data for defense ministries and critical infrastructure operators.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Current aerial threat mitigation relies on expensive, single-use missile systems that cost millions per intercept, while hostile drones can be produced for a fraction of that price. This cost imbalance limits the ability of militaries and security forces to respond effectively to proliferating low-cost drone attacks and to maintain continuous surveillance over large borders or critical sites.
Solution
Qognifly develops AI-enabled autonomous aerial systems that combine surveillance, patrol, and interception into a single, reusable defense network. Their modular fixed‑wing UAVs incorporate onboard perception, radar, and optical sensors to detect and track threats in real time, while onboard AI compresses the kill chain from detection to engagement without human intervention. The platforms are designed and manufactured entirely in Europe, allowing rapid development cycles (concept to flight in under three months) and secure supply chains. By leveraging reusable drones, the cost per intercept can be reduced to under $50 k, providing a scalable and economically viable countermeasure against cheap hostile drones.
Target Audience
Primary customers are defense ministries, border security agencies, and critical infrastructure operators seeking autonomous, cost‑effective aerial defense and continuous surveillance solutions.
Features
- Fully in‑house design and production of fixed‑wing UAVs, including airframe, composites, avionics, optics, and mission software
- Proprietary AI perception stack with integrated optical, radar, and radio modules for autonomous detection, tracking, and interception
- Modular architecture supporting mother‑drone platforms that can deploy foldable‑wing child UAVs for multi‑layered operations
- Rapid development pipeline delivering mission‑ready drones from concept to flight in under three months
- European‑based manufacturing ensuring secure supply chains and compliance with export regulations
- Adaptive threat detection and autonomous route planning for persistent border and perimeter security
- Data collection and high‑bandwidth transmission for detailed ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance) capabilities