TYTAN Technologies and HENSOLDT Form Partnership on Counter-Drone Technologies
TYTAN Technologies has announced a new facility in Bavaria and a strategic partnership with German sensor leader HENSOLDT to collaborate on counter–unmanned aerial systems (UAS) capabilities. The company said the expansion of its office and manufacturing facilities marks a strategic shift from the development phase to full-scale production. The move is expected to facilitate scaling production to 3,000 Group 3 interceptor drones per month by the end of 2026.
The announcement highlights a broader transition underway in Europe’s defense sector: the movement from startup-led prototyping to industrialized mass production of unmanned systems. In the context of Ukraine and the rapid proliferation of low-cost aerial threats, production volume and cost efficiency are increasingly decisive factors, often outweighing incremental performance gains.
TYTAN Technologies, which conducts drone testing in Ukraine, says its objective is to transform Europe’s counter-UAS capabilities into an industrial reality. The collaboration with HENSOLDT combines cost-effective interceptor drone technology with advanced sensor and command-and-control expertise, delivering a turnkey solution for European drone defense requirements. For HENSOLDT, the partnership extends its sensor and C2 portfolio into the fast-growing interceptor domain; for TYTAN, it provides access to established defense integration, procurement pathways, and credibility with government customers.
Founded in 2023 by CEO Balazs Nagy and CTO Batuhan Yumurtaci, TYTAN originated as a student project at the Technical University of Munich. The company’s mission is to protect European airspace through the development of affordable, attritable autonomous interceptor drones designed to counter unmanned aerial threats. Its technology is specifically focused on addressing the proliferation of inexpensive drones observed in current conflict zones, particularly Ukraine, where traditional air defense systems have struggled with unfavorable cost-exchange ratios.
TYTAN’s interceptors are produced using 3D printing, measure approximately three feet in length, and have a takeoff weight of around 5 kilograms. They can reach speeds of up to 250 km/h and have an operational range of up to 15 kilometers, carrying payloads of roughly 1 kilogram. These specifications place the system squarely in the category of expendable interceptors rather than reusable platforms, aligning with the realities of high-volume drone engagements.
The system employs AI-driven software that renders the interceptor fully autonomous and compatible with a range of command-and-control and operating systems. Designed for cost efficiency, the unit price is reportedly in the low thousands of dollars, positioning it as a viable response to threats such as the Shahed drone, which costs under $30,000. This cost symmetry, or even advantage, represents a significant departure from legacy air defense systems, where interceptors frequently cost orders of magnitude more than the targets they are designed to defeat.
The interceptors are also engineered to withstand jamming and electronic warfare, addressing GPS and communications denial, one of the primary challenges identified during operations in Ukraine. Autonomy and electronic resilience have become essential rather than optional features, as contested electromagnetic environments increasingly define modern conflict.
To date, the company has raised more than €15 million ($18 million) from investors including Lakestar, and has reportedly secured a substantial multi-hundred-million-euro contract with the German government to supply interceptors to Ukraine. If confirmed, the contract would signal a notable shift in European procurement behavior toward younger defense startups capable of delivering scalable, production-ready systems on compressed timelines.
In addition to its partnership with HENSOLDT, TYTAN last autumn collaborated with Dedrone by Axon to integrate advanced sensors and detection technologies into its interceptors. The company also works with BRAVE1 on ongoing testing and deployment efforts in Ukraine, reinforcing a development model in which battlefield feedback directly informs iteration cycles.
Taken together, TYTAN’s expansion and partnerships reflect a broader reorientation of European air defense toward mass, attritable systems designed for sustained conflict rather than limited, high-end contingencies. As drone warfare continues to evolve, the ability to manufacture, deploy, and replace interceptors at scale may prove as strategically important as sensor performance or platform sophistication.