Press Release:
Strausberg – Aerodata AG today unveiled the first prototype of the AeroForce® X at its manufacturing site in Straus berg, in the presence of Minister Presidents Dr Dietmar Woidke (Brandenburg) and Olaf Lies (Lower Saxony). With the AeroForce® X, Aerodata is developing an unmanned MALE (Medium Altitude Long Endurance) aerial system for complex reconnaissance missions.
With a wingspan of 26 metres, a payload of around 1.3 tonnes and a flight endurance of up to 40 hours, the platform can enable continuous monitoring of critical infrastructure – a key component of resilience and national security. As no comparable European solution is currently available on the market, Aerodata is also strengthening Europe’s technological sovereignty with this development.
During their visit, the Minister Presidents gained a comprehensive insight into the development project being carried out by Aerodata, which is headquartered in Braunschweig. Aerodata is a long-standing provider of airborne solutions for maritime reconnaissance, border surveillance and the protection of critical infrastructure. By combining this expertise from Lower Saxony with the high-performance development and manufacturing facilities at the Strausberg aerospace hub in Brandenburg, the AeroForce® X stands as a visible symbol of innovation, value creation and a modern defence industry.
The presentation of the system also provided an opportunity for a discussion on the future of unmanned aircraft systems, Europe’s technological autonomy and the importance of small and medium-sized enterprises for national security and defence capabilities.
Olaf Lies, Minister President of the State of Lower Saxony:
“This roll-out is more than just the unveiling of a new aircraft – it is a visible symbol of innovative strength, technological progress and industrial sustainability. Aerodata exemplifies how research, engineering expertise and entrepreneurial courage give rise to new key technologies. With this European solution, the Lower Saxony-based company here in Brandenburg is making an important contribution to Europe’s technological sovereignty – particularly at a time when security and defence capabilities are of central importance to our continent. The project also stands as a testament to successful cross-border cooperation: Lower Saxony’s technological expertise and Brandenburg’s manufacturing base complement each other perfectly. I would like to thank the entire Aerodata family for their courage, perseverance and innovative spirit.”
Dr Dietmar Woidke, Minister President of the State of Brandenburg:
“The aviation system developed by Aerodata impressively demonstrates that companies in Brandenburg find the ideal conditions to keep pace with the rapid global development of future safety-critical technologies. Since Russia’s attack on Ukraine, the security situation in Germany and Europe has changed. Our democracies and our way of life based on freedom are under pressure. That is why it is important to strengthen the resilience and defence capabilities of our community. Companies such as Aerodata are taking responsibility and, through their innovations, contributing to the security of our country.”
Neset Tükenmez, CEO of Aerodata AG:
“Europe needs its own reliable capabilities to protect critical infrastructure and remain capable of acting in times of security challenges. With AeroForce® X, we are building on more than three decades of experience in airborne sur veillance and reconnaissance, and laying the foundations for a high-performance European solution in the field of unmanned aircraft systems.”
At the end of 2025, Aerodata announced for the first time that they were working on the development of a MALE UAS. With today’s unveiling, Aerodata has reached an important milestone in the project. Following the rollout, the manned prototype will undergo further testing and, as planned, take off for the first time later this year. Further development stages will follow.
