Athlon Avia at MSPO 2026: Advancing Partnerships and Industrial Cooperation in Europe

Athlon Avia presented Ukrainian technologies at MSPO 2026 in Poland — one of the premier international defense industry exhibitions, bringing together military, technology, and defense sector leaders from around the globe.

The exhibition provided a valuable platform to showcase Ukrainian expertise in unmanned aerial systems, establish new professional connections, and initiate potential partnerships with international defense companies.

Over the course of four days, the “Athlon Avia” team held a series of strategic meetings with defense and technology industry stakeholders from Ukraine, Europe, the United States, and South Korea. A central focus of these discussions was the exchange of technical expertise and engineering insights among specialists advancing unmanned technology worldwide.

One of the company’s primary objectives at MSPO 2026 was to identify partners for expanding manufacturing capabilities in Europe, fostering industrial cooperation, and co-developing next-generation products. A dedicated focus was placed on enhancing existing technological solutions through collaboration with international engineering and production teams.

The next phase involves evaluating these engagements to define structured collaboration models aligned with the company’s long-term strategic goals.

Participation in MSPO 2026 marks another significant step forward in strengthening international partnerships and integrating Ukrainian technology into the European defense ecosystem.

Athlon Avia — сo-founders of the EU–Ukraine Drone Alliance — outline key areas of work agreed in brussels

On September 11, the first Board meeting of the EU–Ukraine Drone Alliance took place in Brussels, bringing together 18 founding companies from Ukraine and the European Union.

During the inaugural Board meeting, the participants identified the Alliance’s key priorities and outlined the next steps for its work.

For Athlon Avia, the ultimate goal is the creation of a joint EU–Ukraine unmanned aerial systems market. Such a step would provide the EU with broader access to Ukrainian technologies while enabling Ukrainian drone manufacturers to establish secure production capabilities in Europe. Given the current challenges and threats, developing production capabilities outside Ukraine is already of critical importance.

The companies agreed to establish several key areas of cooperation, including strengthening supply chain resilience, enabling secure industry cooperation, scaling up production, and facilitating joint testing and innovation opportunities. The participants also agreed to establish direct communication channels between member companies.

Andrius Kubilius, European Commissioner for Defence and Space, described the first Board meeting as a historic step toward deeper integration between Ukraine and the European Union.

“Europe must learn to conduct drone warfare as one and learn from Ukraine. In a sense, this Alliance can become a kind of academy of Ukraine’s wartime experience,” the European Commissioner said.

The EU–Ukraine Drone Alliance, whose mandate runs for two years, will agree on its governance structure and define its operational priorities at its next meeting.

“Ukraine should be not only a source of unique combat experience for Europe, but also a full-fledged participant in shaping Europe’s defence-industrial priorities and future capabilities,” “Together, we must focus on making the Alliance meaningful and influential. Our cooperation should result in solutions that carry real weight for both the Ukrainian and European defence industries.”

Artem Vyunnyk, Co-Founder of Athlon Avia

Athlon Avia and KAI have opened AVIA Lab

Athlon Avia and KAI Open AVIA Lab: 350 m² Facility, Fully Equipped Mechanical Zone, and More Than 120 Aeromodelling Graduates

Recently, the National University “Kyiv Aviation Institute” (KAI), in cooperation with leading Ukrainian UAV manufacturer Athlon Avia, launched the AVIA Lab Aeromodelling Laboratory — a unique space where university and school students can take their first steps in aviation engineering.

AVIA Lab covers 350 m² and includes five dedicated areas: a composites room, mechanical zone, lecture room, assembly room, and classroom for school students.

On the first day of operation, 70 students were working in the space from early morning as part of UAV Engineering Bootcamp 2026, a nine-day hands-on school focused on the design and development of unmanned systems.

Students from different educational institutions — including KAI, Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, KSE University, as well as school students — work on practical assignments using modern manufacturing equipment, including a laser engraving machine, CNC milling machine, and vacuum thermoforming machine. They will also be able to assemble their own UAV models in the dedicated assembly room.

The official opening was attended by Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine Oksen Lisovyi, who highlighted the scale and value of initiatives like AVIA Lab:

“What is important for us is that businesses engaged in aviation and defense technology development are investing in universities. When we talk specifically about laboratories focused on aviation career guidance and encouraging young people to pursue engineering, this is the first laboratory of its kind.”

Athlon Avia Co-Founder Artem V’yunnyk emphasized:

“Aeromodelling has played an enormous role in the history of aviation. We know that many of Ukraine’s outstanding aircraft designers started out in aeromodelling clubs. In fact, all of Athlon Avia’s co-founders were also involved in aeromodelling clubs at one point. Now, our aeromodelling laboratory is designed to further strengthen that passion and enthusiasm for aviation. I am very glad that, even before having this dedicated space that we have created today, more than 100 people had already joined our laboratory. I have no doubt that after the laboratory officially opens, there will be many more.”

AVIA Lab began operating in a pilot format in October 2025. Since then, two cohorts have brought together more than 120 students. Serhii Dulenko, Head of AVIA Lab, shared the results achieved during this period:

“The main achievement over this past year is that we have built the core of a community — students and high school students who come here regularly and inspire others to join. It all started with the ‘Zhevzhyk’ — our first cohort, the first glider-building sessions, and our first competitions. Then we moved on to more advanced models and different configurations.

We also had an amazing flight trip organized by Athlon Avia. After that, you could really see the excitement in the students’ eyes. With the students who joined us in October, we have already progressed to radio-controlled models within a year.”

“The next stage of development is to launch scientific research at the laboratory, focusing on aviation and aircraft engineering.”

— notes Kseniia Semenova, President of the National University “Kyiv Aviation Institute.”

The official opening was also attended by representatives of the leadership of the National University “Kyiv Aviation Institute”, Athlon Avia, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Committee on Education, Science and Innovation — Serhii Babak and Roman Hryshchuk; Ihor Fedirko, Executive Director of the Ukrainian Defense Industry Council; Yurii Petrushenko of the President of Ukraine’s Fund for Support of Education, Science and Sports; and Artur Bulyhin of the Ukrainian Federation of Technological Sports.

Guests were given a tour of the renovated facility and received a symbolic gift — the simplest aircraft model, “Zhevzhyk,” which is built by all aspiring engineers at the beginning of their journey.

For Athlon Avia, the AVIA Lab aeromodelling laboratory is an investment in developing a generation of specialists who will shape the future of Ukrainian aviation, the defense industry, and the country’s technological independence.

The company’s co-founders began their own careers in aeromodelling, which eventually led to the development of the “Furia” UAS — one of Ukraine’s first reconnaissance unmanned aerial systems, which has been supporting Ukrainian artillery and aerial reconnaissance units in carrying out combat missions more effectively since 2014.

A particularly valuable contribution for the attendees was a speech by Anna Antonova, Professor of Mathematics at KAI and daughter of the renowned aircraft designer Oleg Antonov. She emphasized that the most important thing in aeromodelling is to create something tangible and see the result — even if that result is simply a paper airplane at first. She described the laboratory as an excellent place for bringing such ideas to life.

Those interested can join the next training cohort by submitting an application through the KAI website: AVIA Lab — KAI

Quotes from the opening ceremony participants:

“As a member of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Education, Science and Innovation and a member of the KAI Supervisory Board, I am sincerely grateful to every business that invests in higher education — especially in infrastructure projects such as modern laboratories. What Athlon Avia has created for KAI is difficult to call simply a laboratory — it is a fully-fledged educational and practical training facility. Projects like this are extremely important for universities, particularly in an environment of limited funding. This is where students can not only acquire theoretical knowledge but also develop practical skills. We are sincerely grateful to businesses that engage with universities, rather than simply waiting for graduates to emerge fully trained. By contributing to their education together with higher education institutions, businesses help build a modern system for training professionals that meets the needs of both the economy and the state.”

Roman Hryshchuk — Member of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Committee on Education, Science and Innovation

“The opening of AVIA Lab together with KAI demonstrates that Athlon Avia is becoming an ecosystem-level company and industry player. It is worth noting that many companies that started out around the same time as Athlon Avia have moved abroad. It is encouraging to see Athlon Avia here in Ukraine and to see the company continuing to expand into new areas. Six months ago, Athlon Avia presented an interesting project aimed at collecting and consolidating feedback from the battlefield, analyzing it, integrating it into their products, and, most importantly, sharing the experience further with military units. Today, it is essential to invest in the engineers of the future.”

Ihor Fedirko — Executive Director of the Ukrainian Defense Industry Council

“The President of Ukraine’s Fund focuses on supporting the development of the most talented children — Olympiad winners, students who achieve 185 or more points on the NMT, and recipients of the President’s scholarships. We analyzed where these students choose to pursue higher education. Unfortunately, the statistics do not fully align. If we compare the top academic programs with exemplary accreditation or research accreditation with the programs these students actually choose, the correlation is not particularly strong. That is why it is so important for us to see initiatives like this laboratory. In practice, they matter even more — and they are already making an impact today.”

Yurii Petrushenko — Head of the President of Ukraine’s Fund for Support of Education, Science and Sports

“The opening of this laboratory is a powerful signal to our young people. Today, many teenagers leave the country after the 8th–10th grades, and practical initiatives like this help students and schoolchildren discover new opportunities and purpose here in Ukraine. They have the opportunity not simply to learn, but to help shape the future of aviation technology, develop their skills, and build their future at home.”

Artur Bulyhin — President of the Ukrainian Federation of Technological Sports

Athlon Avia at the Eurosatory 2026 International Exhibition

Athlon Avia took part in Eurosatory 2026, one of the world’s largest international events dedicated to defense and security. This year, the exhibition brought together more than 2,600 exhibitors from 68 countries, over 50,000 visitors, and approximately 350 official delegations.

For Athlon Avia, participation in the event was an important opportunity to showcase Ukrainian defense technologies to the international professional community, hold dozens of meaningful meetings with potential partners, defense industry representatives, and foreign delegations, and discuss prospects for further cooperation.

At the NAUDI booth, the company presented the “Furia” Unmanned Aerial System, one of Ukraine’s best-known reconnaissance systems. The system has been performing combat missions for more than 12 years and has been in service with the Defense Forces of Ukraine since 2020. Its extensive combat experience and continuous development in response to modern operational challenges make “Furia” an important example of effective Ukrainian defense technology.

Eurosatory 2026 once again demonstrated the strong international interest in Ukrainian defense technologies. The practical experience gained by Ukrainian manufacturers during the full-scale war has become an important factor in the development of modern security solutions and international technological cooperation.

Athlon Avia thanks everyone who visited the NAUDI booth, took part in the professional dialogue, and expressed interest in our technologies. We value every meeting and are confident that the connections established during the exhibition will serve as a foundation for new partnerships and joint projects.

Renovations are nearing completion and equipment is being installed at AVIA Lab, the largest student aircraft modeling laboratory

The student aeromodelling laboratory AVIA Lab is entering the final stage of preparations for its opening. Key manufacturing equipment has already been installed on the premises of the National University “Kyiv Aviation Institute”, while branding and space setup are now being finalized.

AVIA Lab is an educational and research space within the National University “Kyiv Aviation Institute”, created jointly with Athlon Avia, a leading Ukrainian manufacturer of fixed-wing unmanned aerial systems. The project is designed to develop students’ technical skills, engineering mindset, and practical expertise in aeromodelling.

As part of the program, AVIA Lab participants study aircraft structures, build their own models, practice flight operations, and take part in practical competitions. The laboratory’s first two cohorts have already brought together more than 90 students.

The laboratory renovation was funded by Athlon Avia. The space is now equipped with a laser engraving machine, a CNC milling machine, and a vacuum thermoforming machine. Students will use this equipment to work on their own projects and build aircraft models.

The official opening of the renovated space will take place on June 29. Media representatives are invited to visit the laboratory after the renovation is completed, explore its capabilities, and speak with the project team.

Athlon Avia made its debut with its own booth at the International Drone Show 2026

Athlon Avia took part in the International Drone Show for the first time, presenting its own booth in Odense, Denmark. The event is one of Europe’s key platforms for showcasing advanced unmanned technologies, bringing together manufacturers, government representatives, military personnel, emergency services, and technology companies from around the world.

Participation in the exhibition marked an important step in expanding the company’s international presence and created new opportunities for professional dialogue with potential partners. Throughout the event, the Athlon Avia team held dozens of business meetings with representatives of the defense industry, government institutions, and international organizations.

The company’s booth was visited by representatives of the Danish Ministry of Defence, the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Danish Emergency Management Agency. Discussions focused on the potential applications of Ukrainian unmanned systems, prospects for technological cooperation, and areas for further collaboration.

The A1-SM “Furia” Unmanned Aerial System attracted particular attention from visitors. The system, successfully used by the Defense Forces of Ukraine for aerial reconnaissance missions, was also presented as a promising solution for search and rescue operations. Its capabilities and extensive operational experience generated significant interest among representatives of Denmark’s public sector.

Another key topic of the discussions was the potential for expanding cooperation in the Danish market and opportunities for further scaling Athlon Avia’s international operations. The company continues to expand its network of partners and work toward integrating Ukrainian technologies into international defense and security projects.

Participation in the International Drone Show was another indication of the international community’s strong interest in Ukrainian unmanned systems. Real-world combat experience, engineering expertise, and the ability to rapidly adapt technologies to emerging challenges remain key strengths of Ukraine’s defense industry.

Athlon Avia thanks the event organizers, partners, and everyone who visited the company’s booth for the productive meetings and professional dialogue. New international projects, partnerships, and opportunities for advancing Ukrainian defense technologies lie ahead.

Athlon Avia has initiated an update to its training and education programs for reconnaissance pilots

Over the course of several days in Kyiv, instructors from training centers, representatives of military universities, and combat crews operating the A1-SM “Furia” UAS worked together to update training programs and improve the pilot training system. The event was held in the format of a training and methodological workshop.

The “Furia” UAV has been operating on the frontline since 2014 and is currently used by more than 100 brigades of the Defense Forces of Ukraine. As the manufacturer of one of Ukraine’s first reconnaissance UAV systems, Athlon Avia brought together training center instructors, military university faculty, and combat units to develop standard operating procedures (SOPs). Their implementation will help improve the effectiveness of reconnaissance UAS operations.

“Collecting and sharing best practices is part of our company’s broader values framework, which has three key components: the product itself, with its functionality and capabilities; technical support and ensuring that our products are 100% combat-ready; and, of course, the people who operate them. The higher the level of pilot training, the more effectively the ‘Furia’ is used — and the more effective the Ukrainian military becomes. This is, in essence, the mission of our company,”

emphasized Athlon Avia Co-Founder Artem V'yunnyk.

The workshop was moderated by Andrii Tkachov, First Deputy Head of the Kyiv City Military Administration. He coordinated and oversaw the participants throughout the process, drawing on his own combat experience dating back to the ATO and his direct involvement in aerial reconnaissance since 2022.

“Such workshops are a form of public-private partnership aimed at achieving our shared goal — victory. This is an approach that should be scaled by other companies, associations, and government institutions. Manufacturers can engage directly with combat pilots, receive feedback from operational crews, and gain a deeper understanding of challenges that may not be fully understood by government agencies responsible for procurement or by military command. This is an approach worth scaling across the defense industry. It is a good example of how a private company can launch an initiative whose results are important to everyone,”

emphasizes Andrii Tkachov.

The workshop included a series of panel discussions covering various topics, including improving the effectiveness of “Furia” operations, situational awareness systems for aerial reconnaissance teams, and standardizing the integration of combat experience into the training of future pilots.

Over two consecutive days, participants worked in dedicated groups to develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) covering the following areas:

Selection, preparation, and camouflage of operating positions
Pre-flight preparation
Actions in emergency and non-standard situations
Coordination and interaction between personnel
Preparation of reports following the completion of combat missions

“It was valuable to have representatives from every part of the process in the working groups: pilots, manufacturers, instructors, and researchers. Meetings like these allow us to work through issues step by step and learn from different experiences — both the mistakes others have made and the solutions that have proven successful.”

“The quality of combat mission execution, commanders’ situational awareness on the battlefield, and the survivability of UAV crews — including the preservation of the aircraft — depend on the pilot’s skill and level of training, particularly the strength of their theoretical foundation and practical skills,” said Tetiana “Bilka,” Senior Instructor of the UAS Training Department at the Professional Training School of the Territorial Defence Forces’ Unmanned Systems.

“Athlon Avia has done a great job by bringing together the operational and practical experience of using and maintaining the ‘Furia’ from instructors, educators, and the people who operate the system themselves. This experience often differs and, in some cases, even contradicts one another — but that is precisely where its value lies. The key is to give the next generation of pilots the opportunity to identify the right solutions in specific situations. If something like this had existed in 2020, or even earlier, it would have significantly improved the effectiveness of my work,” said Andrii “Beskyd,” a participant in the workshop and UAS Battery Commander of the 4th Artillery Reconnaissance Division of the 15th Separate Artillery Reconnaissance Brigade.

The SOP materials will be submitted to senior military leadership for further review and potential integration into the training system.

Athlon Avia plans to hold these training and methodological workshops on a regular basis, maintaining a continuous feedback loop with training centers, military universities, brigades, and operational UAV crews.

KPI Career beAhead Expo: Opportunities for Students from Athlon Avia

Athlon Avia took part in the career fair at Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute for the second time. The event brought together more than 40 Ukrainian and international companies from the defense, banking, manufacturing, and other sectors.

Students had the opportunity to learn more about the companies’ activities, current job openings, internships, and opportunities to launch their careers. The event was geared toward students majoring in technical, IT, engineering, economics, and other fields.

At the Athlon Avia booth, participants examined a model of the A1-CM “Furia” UAV, a ground control station, and learned about the company’s history—it was one of the first in Ukraine to begin manufacturing drones for aerial reconnaissance back in 2014.

As part of Career Day, the company also held “Career Speed Recruiting,” a series of rapid interviews. Company representatives noted that the students arrived well-prepared and highly motivated:

“As a talent acquisition specialist, I’d like to highlight how professionally the students prepared their resumes and how confidently and coherently they conducted themselves during the interviews. It’s especially gratifying to see young people who, right at the start of their careers, demonstrate responsibility, motivation, and a thoughtful approach to their professional path. It is precisely these students who are shaping a strong generation of future professionals,”

says Tetyana, a recruiter at Athlon Avia.

Thank you to all the students who approached our team and showed interest in unmanned systems and Ukrainian defense tech solutions.

For Athlon Avia, collaborating with students is an investment in the future of Ukrainian technology and the development of a new generation of specialists.

Current job openings at Athlon Avia:

https://jobs.dou.ua/companies/athlon-avia-unmanned-solutions/vacancies

IT Job Openings at Miltech: Athlon Avia Participated in DOU Day 2026

Athlon Avia joined DOU Day 2026—an annual multi-day conference organized by DOU, Ukraine’s largest IT community.

This year, the event attracted over 5,000 attendees. More than 150 speakers took the stage across six venues, and 80 IT and DefenseTech companies set up booths.

Athlon Avia participated in the conference with a booth where it demonstrated the “Furia” UAV along with its ground control station and antenna. Company representatives spoke with attendees, discussing the company’s activities, development and scaling plans, as well as career opportunities at Athlon Avia.

During the conference, discussions focused not only on traditional IT fields but also on the development of the miltech sector, which today has a growing need for engineering and technical specialists. As DefenceTech grows in Ukraine, so does the number of job openings for IT professionals in the field of defense technologies.

Currently, Athlon Avia has a significant need for IT specialists to work on miltech projects and develop modern defense technologies. The company is looking for specialists in software development, systems integration, telemetry, communications systems, and automation.

“Athlon Avia is at DOU Day to debunk the myth that there are few engineers in miltech. We’re looking for C++ developers, .NET developers, and embedded developers to work together for the benefit of the Ukrainian Armed Forces,”

said Yana Khnykina, Human Capital Director at Athlon Avia.

DOU Day is an important platform for the IT community to get to know Ukrainian miltech, offering the opportunity to communicate directly with specialists, share experiences, and demonstrate how engineering solutions and software development are already impacting the battlefield and the development of Ukraine’s technological defense.

Stay tuned for new job openings and career opportunities at Athlon Avia:

https://jobs.dou.ua/companies/athlon-avia-unmanned-solutions/vacancies

Athlon Avia has donated the “Furia” UAV to the upcoming exhibition of modern military technology at the War Museum

On April 29, NVP “Athlon Avia” officially handed over a mock-up of one of the first A1-SM “Furia” reconnaissance UAVs to the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War, located beneath the Motherland Monument. The event marks the drone’s already historical role as one of the first technological solutions that changed the principles of artillery reconnaissance and artillery operations on the front.
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“Furia” will become part of the future “Museum of Modern Military Technologies” exhibition, which will showcase equipment currently used by the Defense Forces of Ukraine. As part of the event, Athlon Avia co-founder Artem V’iunnyk and the museum’s Director General Yurii Savchuk signed a memorandum of cooperation, laying the foundation for a long-term partnership.

“Support from ‘Athlon Avia’ is much more than assistance with equipment or resources. You supported the idea and our shared ambition for development. This support marks a new stage for the museum and at the same time lays the foundation for further strategic cooperation. We have already begun implementing the ‘Museum of Modern Military Technologies’ project, and thanks to this, we will be able to tell a broader and deeper story about the latest Ukrainian weapons, the defenders who use them, and the manufacturers who have reached such a level under challenging conditions,” emphasizes Yurii Savchuk.”

The A1-SM “Furia” UAV is one of the first Ukrainian reconnaissance systems, currently used by more than a hundred units.

“When we entered the artillery field, there was virtually no aerial reconnaissance. Together with the military, we developed the rules. For example, a section titled ‘adjusting artillery fire using an unmanned aerial vehicle’ was added to the artillery manual. We developed the procedures for both their use and operation,” recalls Artem V’iunnyk.”

In 2014, “Furia” effectively brought together aircraft modeling and real warfare — and became a precision tool for artillery.
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Combat pilots also joined the event and shared their firsthand experience of the important role of UAV systems on the front.

“‘Furia’ is not just a UAV, it is the eyes of the artillery. It is hundreds of lives of our infantry saved. It has become a true workhorse of the war. Thanks to such wings, modern warfare has become a war of technologies. And thanks to them, we destroy the enemy,” says Valentyn “Balu,” UAV unit commander of the 43rd Mechanized Brigade, who has logged more than 3,000 flight hours without losing a UAV.”

“Furia is a legendary aircraft for me. It provided the foundation, knowledge, and experience. That’s why it definitely belongs in the museum,” adds Yurii “Ispanets,” UAV crew commander of the 15th Separate Artillery Reconnaissance Brigade “Black Forest”.”

Participation in the event also included veteran Taras “Sheriff” Vynarchyk, who after being wounded joined “Athlon Avia”:

“Honestly, for a service member, there is no greater joy than seeing the result of your work — it gives you the strength and desire to keep moving forward. After being wounded, a fellow soldier invited me to join ‘Athlon Avia’, where I now work in technical support. Essentially, I continue my mission of defense — now on the manufacturer’s side: I’m constantly in touch with pilots and receive videos of their work, where they carry out missions and destroy the enemy.”

A dedicated space for the new “Museum of Modern Military Technologies” exhibition will be created in the main building beneath the “Motherland-Mother” monument — in a location that has not previously been used for exhibition projects.

“There will be simulators, interactive elements, and light and sound effects. It should be a space that speaks the language of modern technologies,” notes Yurii Savchuk.”

The team is currently working on the exhibition design project.
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Being part of the “Museum of Modern Military Technologies” exhibition is a great honor for “Athlon Avia” as one of the first Ukrainian UAV manufacturers. The team is not standing aside but continues to work together with the military — and “Furia” rightfully takes its place in this history.

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