Europe Rolls Out First Drone-Proof Military Convoy With No Drivers

Spain’s Sener Aerospace & Defence has unveiled Europe’s first autonomous convoy control system, known as COMMANDS, according to Defense Express on November 3.

The project was developed within a multinational consortium over the past three years, with funding of €27 million, 90% of which came from the European Defence Fund (EDF).

The demonstration took place at General Dynamics European Land Systems’ Santa Bárbara Sistemas test range in Spain, attended by military officials, government representatives, and defense experts from across Europe.

The COMMANDS system introduces a new approach to military logistics, integrating autonomous vehicles into supply operations to reduce personnel risk in high-threat environments.

According to Defense Express, the rise of drone warfare has expanded surveillance and strike zones, making traditional supply routes increasingly vulnerable. Autonomous convoys aim to minimize human exposure and sustain frontline logistics under such conditions.

At the core of COMMANDS is the Naviground system, which synchronizes vehicles in a convoy using data from multiple sensors, including satellite navigation, LIDAR, cameras, radar, and inertial systems.

These inputs are processed through artificial intelligence to generate a unified situational picture, enabling the vehicles—manufactured by Iveco Defence Vehicles—to maneuver autonomously or under optional human control.

Among the demonstrated capabilities were “follow-me” convoy operations, where vehicles automatically trail a lead truck, and a “last-mile shuttle” mode, designed to deliver supplies to forward positions without human drivers.

Naviground is integrated into Indra’s battlefield management system, already used on ASCOD infantry fighting vehicles, ensuring compatibility with NATO’s digital infrastructure and simplifying deployment across allied forces.

As Defense Express notes, the system remains in its testing phase, and its performance under real battlefield conditions—such as damaged infrastructure and unpaved routes—has yet to be proven. Nonetheless, European defense experts consider autonomous convoys a significant step toward adapting logistics to the realities of modern drone warfare.

Earlier, Ukraine unveiled the Ruta cruise missile developed by European firm Destinus, featuring a Spanish-made guidance system capable of resisting GNSS jamming. The missile, designed for low-altitude flight and swarm coordination, has been tested in combat scenarios and integrates with Ukrainian command systems.

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