Most of the detail this week sits in one German notice. BWI GmbH is preparing a framework agreement for unmanned aerial vehicles carrying magnetometers to survey mines and explosive ordnance, and the airframe is only part of what is being bought. The same framework covers provision, with no time limit, of drone control and planning software and evaluation/explosive-ordnance-detection software, the maintenance and support that go with them, further development services including on-site support for troop trials, and training. The notice gives an award amount of €5,068,266.44 net, with an upper limit of €7,602,399.66, over a maximum term of four years, through a negotiated procedure with a call for competition under § 11 para. 1 sentence 1 alternative 2 VSVgV. The four-year term and the open-ended software provision describe a sustained obligation to the units doing the trials, not a single delivery of aircraft.
Open tenders to assess
1906-CK-Minendetektion — BWI GmbH, Germany. Value field undisclosed in our record; the notice text states €5,068,266.44 net (upper limit €7,602,399.66). Closes 12 October 2026. Framework of up to four years for magnetometer-equipped UAVs, associated software, maintenance, further development and training.
RPAS MINI FIXED WING TYPE A VECTOR sustainment — Jefatura de Asuntos Económicos del Mando de Apoyo Logístico, Spain. €10.7M. Closes 12 October 2026. Maintenance service, spare parts and technical assistance.
Embarked endurance surface naval drones — Direction Générale de l'Armement / DOMN, France. Undisclosed value. Closes 15 October 2026. Modular platforms with payloads and a C2 system, deployable from Navy vessels (e.g. PHA, BSAM type) day and night, elongation of at least 100 nq, autonomy of 5 to 10 days, sea state 4 minimum; maximum quantity targeted is a few tens.
AGAMENON MALE/HAPS flight operations and data applications — Fuerteventura Tech Park, Spain. €1.1M. Closes 28 September 2026. Integral service of medium and/or high-altitude persistent flight operations with onboard sensors, plus data-processing application development, using the PTFSA Canarias Stratoport; the work supports the AGAMENON project on early detection systems for unaccompanied minor immigration.
736 SFS Handheld Lightweight CUAS — Dept of the Air Force, United States. Undisclosed value. Closes 20 September 2026. Combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items under simplified acquisition procedures; FAR 52.232-18, availability of funds, applies.
Reminder: Coastal UAV Systems for FSI Funds — Ministério da Defesa Nacional - Marinha, Portugal, €150,406.5, funded through FSI Funds. Reported in week 36 as tendered and still recorded as tendered; closes 20 September 2026.Contract awards
Urgent acquisition of drone systems (V-BAT) — Ministère de la Défense, Belgium, to Stellar Ordnance. €46,898,390, awarded 7 September 2026. The notice describes only the urgent acquisition of V-BAT drone systems; no further scope detail is given.
Purchase of Drones — West Midlands Fire Service to iRed Limited. £39,600, awarded 25 August 2026.
C24101 Drones — replacement of existing operational drone fleet — Kent & Medway Town Fire Authority to Akhter Computers PLC. £37,156, awarded 30 July 2026, to replace the authority's existing operational drone fleet.
Computer fabric combatant fire and drone detection — U.S. Navy to International Fabric Machines Inc. $35,000, awarded 1 August 2026. Our record carries the title only.This week's reading
EU-Ukraine Drone Alliance: Kubilius Calls for Results Before Year-End — the first board meeting, on 11 September 2026, confirmed follow-up work, but the public announcement names no individual projects and no companies responsible for them. Membership arrangements for general members and public partners are due before the next board meeting, with no application deadline published, so there is not yet a documented route in for companies outside the founding group.
