On November 6, 2024, the German company Avilus announced its collaboration with the Bundeswehr to test the Grille drone system. The trials, conducted in a simulated environment, focused on evaluating the system’s capabilities to improve operational efficiency and adaptability in military contexts.
The demonstration focused on improving communication, interoperability, and process automation, three essential elements for modernizing military operations. The tests highlighted Grille’s potential to meet the demands of modern conflicts, particularly in scenarios involving electronic threats and complex terrain conditions.
A logistics mission conducted with KNDS demonstrated the coordination between autonomous aerial and ground transport. The Grille drone transported cargo over several kilometers, including an intermediate reloading operation, while maintaining high performance levels. During the mission, the German Army’s electronic warfare unit EloKa tested the system’s resistance to electronic jamming, confirming its robustness in contested environments.
Mission control was also showcased through the integration of Avilus’ ground control segment (GCS) with the BOXER armored vehicle. This configuration allows remote mission supervision directly from the field, offering a mobile and secure platform for managing robotic and autonomous systems. This feature proved particularly valuable in high-risk operations, such as medical evacuation (RASEVAC), where remote coordination enhances both safety and efficiency.
The development of the Grille drone by Avilus spanned several years and was based on collaboration among industry, academia, and the armed forces. The initiative began in 2020 when Ernst Rittinghaus, founder of Avilus, proposed the idea of a “flying stretcher” to doctoral students at the Institute of Flight System Dynamics at the Technical University of Munich. Within weeks, a preliminary technical concept was developed, quickly evolving into the drone evacuation system, named DRONEVAC.