militär AKTUELL (AT) / Startup Riseport: Affordable Drone Defense

18.03.2026:  INTERVIEW

 Riseport Europe is a German startup that develops cost-effective drone defense solutions. In this interview, CEO Emanuel Aprill explains the Argos system and current developments. 

Riseport is a startup in the defense sector. What exactly are you currently working on?

Essentially, we are addressing a military capability gap in the field of drone defense, specifically in the segment of small unmanned systems weighing up to about 450 kilograms. This isn’t just about drones, but generally about anything that moves in airspace and needs to be defended against by troops. This led to the development of our Argos product family. In its basic version, the system consists of a passive 360-degree detection system featuring camera, acoustic, and RF sensors—deliberately without radar. This is supplemented by a kinetic fire unit based on an automatic shotgun. A key feature is that the system operates without active emissions, ensuring it remains undetected even behind enemy lines. At the same time, it is lightweight and compact enough to be integrated into a wide variety of platforms, regardless of vehicle type. Stationary deployment is also feasible.

Are additional components or upgrades planned?

Yes, definitely. The base system will be supplemented with additional components. These include, among other things, a launcher with guided missiles, which is part of the Argos product family. This allows us to engage targets not only at close range (shotgun ammunition) and at a distance of about 200 meters (airburst ammunition), but also at a range of about two kilometers using the missiles. In addition, the system can be expanded with various sensors, night vision solutions, and a multi-weapon package that allows for the integration of different weapons. 

“It is not the mission that is adapted to high-tech systems—the situation, the mission, and the troops’ needs dictate the appropriate means.”

How is friendly fire prevented?

We prevent friendly fire against our own drones or other objects, such as birds, by using visual, audio, and RF signatures and applying AI within the Blue Force Tracking system to filter them out. We have various add-on products in our product family that we are further developing in collaboration with the military, particularly the German Armed Forces. Additional signatures are also provided by partners, though we naturally rely on their support.

How did the development of this system come about, and what was the motivation behind it?

There were several reasons. The first was the clear recognition from the troops that there is a significant capability gap in this area, particularly with autonomous or semi-autonomous systems. Our system can operate completely autonomously, as we want the vehicle crew to focus on the mission, not on drone defense. Currently, an HMI must be installed by law so that firing authorization is given by a human.

Another point is that existing systems are often very expensive and economically disproportionate to the threat posed by low-cost drones. At the same time, they would be difficult to operate at the necessary scale with available personnel. On top of that, the systems currently available don’t operate quickly enough. That’s why we decided to take development into our own hands—from the perspective of soldiers for soldiers, and in collaboration with soldiers.

What is the current status of the project?

Within six months, we developed a highly upgradeable prototype from an idea and actually built it. The focus is clearly on speed: We don’t need a silver-lining solution; rather, we need a practical capability for the troops. We are currently working on the technical refinement of the prototypes. At the same time, we are in discussions with investors to secure the next development steps.

To date, the project has been financed largely through internal funds and contributions from individual small investors. For the next phase, we are specifically seeking a strategic partner to support further development without getting involved in day-to-day operations—the established defense industry is excluded from this. To this end, we are currently in the process of establishing a publicly traded company for Europe, with Saxony as the prospective location. We are currently in discussions with anchor investors in the DACH region.

What are the plans for further development?

The next step is a live-fire test scheduled for the summer, largely in collaboration with the German Armed Forces. Additionally, there will be an official demonstration at the German Armed Forces.

Starting in 2027, testing in a military operational environment is planned, followed by the start of series production later that same year. That’s right: from the very beginning, we’ve been talking about series production with a planned production capacity of up to 500 systems per month. Three outstanding partners in Germany, who have actively supported us from the start, are making this possible: the Strama Group, the HDAO Group, and ACS.  At the same time, we are continuously developing the system further, particularly in the areas of add-ons and software. As mentioned, the goal is to continuously integrate new drone signatures and keep the systems up to date through updates.

What challenges do you foresee in this area in the future?

A key challenge is the dynamic nature of drone technology. Development is proceeding very rapidly, which means that defense systems must also be continuously adapted. Fundamentally, it remains a constant interplay between attack and defense. That is why it is crucial to keep systems flexible and update them regularly. Another aspect is the development of holistic systems that also bring jamming and networked drones into play. 

militär AKTUELL Link: Startup-Unternehmen Riseport: Kostengünstige Drohnenabwehr 

DEFENCE BLOG & C-UAS HUB

06.11.2025/07.11.2025:  German defense technology company has announced the completion of the final design review for the sensor module of its ARGOS APS drone defense system, presenting the platform as a compact, mobile counter-UAV solution designed for battlefield environments where concealment and survivability matter as much as detection.

RISEPORT EUROPE said the ARGOS APS is being developed with passive, AI-assisted sensor fusion that combines acoustic and optical tracking, instead of radar-based detection. In its announcement, the company stated that avoiding radar is intentional, as emitting signals would increase the likelihood of the system itself being detected and targeted.

According to the company, the system uses a layered approach that links its passive detection suite with a kinetic interceptor module. This configuration is intended to detect and neutralize small drones — including those that do not emit radio frequency signatures — while keeping the defending unit hidden from enemy counter-battery strikes.

DEFENCE BLOG Link: German startup develops scalable last-line counter-drone defense
C-UAS HUB Link: German start-up unveils scalable counter-drone defence system 

Nordwest-Zeitung/Weser Kurier/NOZ-Digital/Ostfriesen-Zeitung

04.10.2025: The defence contractor Riseport Europe is developing an innovative system for defending against drones. Despite interest from the German Armed Forces, financing remains uncertain. What new paths is the company taking?
Drone demonstration during the German Armed Forces' Red Strom Bravo exercise in Hamburg: An Argus Interception net launcher drone in action. The net launcher drone can capture enemy drones using two shootable nets and then bring them down to the ground in a controlled manner. Riseport Europe is also developing a system to defend against micro drones.
Oldenburg/Bremen/Hamburg – The ability to defend against drones has come into focus in recent weeks. The explosiveness of the issue is highlighted by airspace violations and unauthorized drone flights over Poland, Romania, Denmark, Norway, and northern Germany. Small defense companies want to offer solutions to this problem and have been attracting increasing attention since the so-called turning point. But while drone defence is gaining in importance, small defense companies are complaining about difficult partnerships and even rejections by banks. This is now a reason to break new ground.

Nordwest - Zeitung Link: Defence manufacturer breaks new ground
Weser Kurier Link: Bremen-based defence contractor explores new financing avenues 
NOZ Digital Link: German Armed Forces interested: Why a company specializing in drone defense is experiencing financing problems 
Ostfriesen - Zeitung Link:  German Armed Forces interested: Why a company specializing in drone defense is experiencing financing problems 

ARGOS project – platform protection against micro drones

03.09.2025: The fact that RISEPORT projects can be implemented at the speed now required is demonstrated, among other things, by the joint trade fair appearance at RüNet 2025 with the STRAMA Group and the platform protection against micro drones presented here. Full functionality is predicted by the middle of next year, after which the project will enter the qualification phase together with a public client. We are thinking and implementing platform protection in series.  

90% of all platforms in operation will remain unprotected against drones without ARGOS. 

“Almost treasonous” – defence industry feels disadvantaged by banks

10.07.2025: While politicians talk of a turning point and military readiness, a North German arms manufacturer has had its business account closed. This is not an isolated case. Smaller companies in particular are clearly still struggling with the reputation of their industry.
LINK: Rüstungsfirmen beklagen: Banken verweigern Konten und Kredite 

Quantities for the defence industry – a strong alliance of five companies!

10.06.2025: Due to military quantity requirements in Europe, five companies have joined forces following a successful kick-off meeting in Düsseldorf to form a strong alliance dedicated to meeting future challenges in national and alliance defence.

The quantities required by public sector clients demand innovative, flexible, and affordable production facilities in Europe, which the self-proclaimed European Defense Automation alliance, with its respective capabilities, can tailor to the needs of each client and product.

RISEPORT DEFENCE AUTOMATION GmbH, a subsidiary of RISEPORT EUROPE GmbH, which is already active in the defense industry, will play a central role in coordinating all active partners STRAMAGROUP, HDAO Group, FLT Automation, and mantro for the respective customers.

Letter of Intent signed for the construction of a medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) for Europe

26.05.2025: Red Arrow technologies and RISEPORT AIRDEFENDER sign a far-reaching memorandum of understanding to set a further signal for a meaningful expansion of capabilities in Europe. In order to meet the challenges of changing defense and security policy with speed, reliable commitments and competence, the parties involved have made a conscious decision to work together. 

REBRANDED AND EXPANSION OF OUR GROUP

07.01.2025: Our parent company RISEPORT EUROPE was successfully rebranded, marking the start of the successful consolidation and planned expansion of our group of companies. In the coming months, we can look forward to further locations and topics in the defence industry.

VISIT TO THE HOMEPORT EXHIBITION

04.07.2024: Visit to the Homeport Exhibition in Hamburg with initial discussions regarding a comprehensive cooperation with 3Dock for mechanical spare parts to be produced at short notice for plant repairs. 

VISIT TO HEGGEMANN AG

01.07.2024: Visit to Heggemann AG at Paderborn Airport, with initial discussions about RISEPORT GmbH's service portfolio, among other things.