Poland’s Ekolot Partners with Spanish Firm on ZEUS VTOL Drone

UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía announced on Feb. 12 in Madrid that it has partnered with Poland-based Ekolot Aerospace & Defense (EAD) to integrate its flight control system into the ZEUS fixed-wing VTOL unmanned aircraft platform.

According to the company, the collaboration will see UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía’s guidance, navigation, and control systems embedded into ZEUS, Ekolot EAD’s new family of fixed-wing vertical take-off and landing aircraft. The ZEUS family is designed within a maximum take-off weight range of 100 to 250 kilograms for VTOL variants and up to 350 kilograms for conventional take-off and landing configurations.

The ZEUS platform combines a fixed-wing aerodynamic design with vertical take-off and landing capability, allowing it to operate in remote or constrained environments without the need for a runway. The system is described as modular and convertible, using a single base airframe that can accept VTOL or CTOL conversion kits.

Payload capacity ranges from 30 to 120 kilograms for VTOL versions and up to 150 kilograms for the CTOL ZEUS G variant. The CTOL configuration is designed for endurance missions of 12 to 24 hours, depending on configuration and payload.

ZEUS integrates UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía’s advanced autopilot systems, which provide flight control and navigation functions for dual-use missions. According to the announcement, the system supports operations in GNSS-denied environments through high-precision inertial navigation and a Visual Navigation System.

The collaboration aims to expand both companies’ presence in the Polish market and support Ekolot Aerospace & Defense’s growth in the Latin American region. The companies stated that they have maintained close cooperation since the beginning of their relationship.

“For EAD (Ekolot Aerospace & Defense), working with UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía means ensuring quality and reliability in one of the most critical components of our platform. This collaboration allows us to look to the future with confidence, exploring new opportunities and joint projects,” said Edgardo Zapata, CEO at Ekolot Aerospace & Defense.

UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía said the agreement reinforces its focus on navigation and flight control systems for unmanned aircraft operating in complex and high-demand environments. The companies also indicated they are exploring future developments related to the ZEUS G and ZEUS CTOL variants, which are configured for long-endurance and higher-payload missions.

The ZEUS family is positioned between small tactical unmanned aerial vehicles and heavier MALE-class systems. By offering both VTOL and CTOL options on a common airframe, the platform is intended to support civil, defense, and security missions that require flexibility in launch and recovery.