From Prototype to Arsenal
Europe is entering a new phase of defense innovation: the challenge is no longer building drones — it is producing them at scale.
Current conflicts have demonstrated that strategic advantage depends on the ability to deploy millions of drones, not thousands. Yet today, most production remains stuck in pre-series stages, constrained by fragmented supply chains and limited industrial capacity.
This event brings together leaders from automotive, defense, manufacturing, and venture to answer one core question:
How can Europe industrialize drone production using automotive principles?
The automotive industry offers a proven blueprint for high-volume, cost-efficient manufacturing, while Europe urgently needs sovereign, localized supply chains to reduce external dependencies. At the same time, the dual-use nature of drone components unlocks significant opportunities to drive down costs through shared civil and defense demand.
We focus on practical pathways to scale: platform strategies, modular design, supply chain localization, and leveraging existing industrial capabilities. We will explore key components, including motors, batteries, electronics, materials, and optics, as well as concrete business models and market entry points for automotive suppliers and new players.
The event is designed for executives, engineers, supply chain experts, investors, and policymakers shaping Europe’s industrial base.
Agenda (10:00 – 17:00)
10:00 — Doors open
Coffee and informal networking
10:30 — Opening
By Benjamin Wolba (EDTH), Thomas Rücker (IPOL), Christian Meine (Marienpark)
Opening Keynote by Dr. Jörg Wissdorf (German MoD - Ukraine Coordination Unit): Drones & Production Scaling in Today’s Security Environment
10:45 — Session 1: From Prototype to Millions
Stanislav Gryshyn (General Cherry): Transition from R&D to industrial manufacturing
Major Molochkov (Separate Special Electronic Support Center): Lessons from Ukraine and EW effects
Oleh Osadchyi (4308 Tech): Bottlenecks across components, suppliers, and assembly
11:45 — Session 2: Automotive Meets Defense
Achim Fedyna (IPOL): Applying automotive principles to drone production
Jürgen Ullrich (PUNITEC): Development of scalable modular value chains for defence industries - practical examples
Rüdiger Feigl (IPOL): Strategic development, safeguarding and scaling of a resilient value chain
12:30 — Lunch & Networking
14:00 — Session 3: Components & Supply Chain
Jan Uhlig (Liebherr Electronics): Mission-Critical-Electronics: Solutions for the next generation of military drones
Manuel Schmidt (EY): Key Developments in the Defence Funding Landscape: From R&D Support to Capability Deployment
Frank Riedel (Docter Optics): Specialized glass: Industrializing military optics at scale
Sven Bümmerstede (FIUKA): Solving the Bottleneck: Replacement of 3D-Printing by Coldforming Sheet Metal
15:00 — Panel: From Hype to Industrial Reality
Misha Rudominsky (HIMERA)
Dr. Falk Schöning (Hogan Lovells)
Julian Kelterborn (United Unmanned Systems LLC)
Mykhailo Diachenko (TAF Industries)
15:50 — Closing & Call to Action
Benjamin Wolba (EDTH), Thomas Rücker (Automotive Thüringen)
17:00 — Optional informal networking