European defense firm STARK officially unveiled its next-generation drone, the One Way Effector – Vertical (OWE-V), following extensive testing in Ukraine, marking a significant leap forward in European military technology. The drone, a VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) platform with a 100-kilometer range, is designed for front-line use in hostile electronic warfare (EW) environments and can be recalled mid-flight, offering both offensive capability and operational flexibility.
Developed in close cooperation with the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the OWE-V is optimized for the real conditions of 21st-century warfare—namely, battlespaces increasingly defined by electronic interference, GPS jamming, and AI-directed responses. The drone is part of STARK’s broader strategy to respond to urgent NATO defense needs following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
“We cannot win tomorrow’s conflicts with the systems designed for yesterday’s wars,” said Philip Lockwood, STARK’s Managing Director and former NATO Innovation Unit chief. “The OWE-V reflects our commitment to constant innovation to meet our operators’ needs.”
The OWE-V’s modular system supports ongoing software and hardware upgrades, ensuring that operators can quickly adapt the platform to new battlefield threats. According to STARK, the drone’s AI-powered targeting system is trained for precision strikes in complex environments while minimizing risk to civilians.
It can be launched and recovered without a runway, a feature that Lockwood says is essential for covert or mobile deployment in contested zones. With input from Ukrainian forces, the drone was tested in areas subject to regular Russian electronic warfare attacks—an environment that shaped much of its development.
“Our partners in Ukraine tested the limits of what’s possible under electronic pressure,” Lockwood said. “The OWE-V is a direct answer to that challenge.”
STARK, founded in 2024 and headquartered in Berlin and Munich, has quickly emerged as a major innovator in the defense sector. It is part of the UXS Alliance, a consortium of European and international firms working to develop unmanned systems for land, air, sea, and space.
The OWE-V arrives as Europe sees a surge in military drone development, driven by Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine and the rising use of unmanned systems across the frontlines. Countries along NATO’s eastern border are now actively building a so-called “drone wall”—an integrated network of autonomous systems stretching from the Arctic to the Black Sea.
The war in Ukraine has demonstrated the value and vulnerability of drones. Ukrainian forces have deployed thousands of small, often improvised, UAVs to strike Russian positions. But many systems have struggled with jamming and signal interference. STARK says the OWE-V directly addresses these weaknesses.
In contrast to one-time-use kamikaze drones, the OWE-V features in-flight recall functionality, allowing for both live operations and reusable training missions. This significantly reduces operational costs and lessens the logistical burden for militaries aiming to maintain a persistent UAV presence.
STARK plans to begin scaled production of the OWE-V later this year at facilities across Europe. The company is pitching the drone to NATO members as a “mass-producible deterrent system,” capable of integrating into national defense architectures at a lower cost than manned aircraft or high-end systems.
This is made possible thanks to a modular manufacturing strategy that allows rapid iteration of both software and hardware. If adversaries adapt, the OWE-V can evolve quickly in response.
“We don’t think in five-year plans anymore,” said Lockwood. “Our systems are updated every month—sometimes every week.”
STARK has attracted serious interest from both public and private sectors. In October 2024, the company raised €14 million in Series A funding, led by U.S. investment giant Sequoia Capital, valuing the firm at around €90 million. That backing reflects the growing intersection between Silicon Valley innovation and European defense manufacturing.
As Lockwood puts it, “We’re building weapons with a software-first mindset. This isn’t about old-world arms factories—it’s about code, connectivity, and constant evolution.”
That mindset is increasingly reflected across NATO. Ukraine’s 2024 numbers alone—1.2 million drones delivered, most of them FPV kamikaze systems—have set a new standard for unmanned warfare. But while most of those systems are disposable, STARK’s OWE-V emphasizes reusability, survivability, and autonomy.
STARK’s rise also points to a broader shift in Europe’s approach to defense manufacturing. Where legacy firms once dominated the market with slow-moving, large-scale weapons programs, new entrants like STARK are delivering battlefield-ready systems in months, not years.
For Lockwood, the OWE-V is more than just a drone—it’s a symbol of how Europe can meet the moment.
“We are moving from defense as a bureaucracy to defense as a mission-driven tech industry,” he said. “Our job is to protect a billion NATO citizens, and help Ukraine win. This drone is one small but important step in that direction.”
As production ramps up and NATO partners begin evaluating the platform, the real test for the OWE-V will be how it performs at scale—and whether it can withstand the fast-changing demands of the world’s most drone-saturated warzone.
What’s clear is that STARK has put itself at the forefront of the drone revolution now reshaping warfare in Europe—and beyond.
