Why Tactical UAVs Are Winning the Future Battlefield Artwork

The Shephard Defence Podcast

The Shephard Defence Podcast tells the stories of the defence industry, trends in military technology and the procurement programmes that get the kit into the hands of the warfighter. In a monthly news roundtable, Shephard Media’s team of international journalists and analysts take deep dives into defence issues, focusing on niche market sectors and looking at where the trends are heading. We also feature content developed by Shephard Studio in cooperation with our partners. If you work in the defence sector, have an interest in defence technologies, or are an end-user of military equipment, then the Shephard Defence Podcast is aimed at you.

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The Shephard Defence Podcast

Why Tactical UAVs Are Winning the Future Battlefield

June 09, 2025 • Shephard Media

In this special edition of the Shephard Defence Podcast, brought to you in partnership with Aeronautics Group, Tony Skinner sits down with Dan Slasky, President and CEO of Aeronautics, to explore how cutting-edge tactical unmanned aerial systems are reshaping today’s battlefields.

From the Orbiter 5 to innovations in loitering munitions and VTOL platforms, the conversation dives into how Aeronautics is building battlefield-ready solutions that are smaller, smarter, and more survivable than ever before. Slasky also discusses how a full-system mindset - integrating UAVs, sensors, communications, and ground control - is helping operators meet complex mission needs with greater speed and precision.

Key Topics:

Why tactical UAVs are displacing larger, costlier platforms
How Aeronautics integrates loitering munition capability into ISR platforms
Innovations in VTOL UAV systems for land and naval use
How in-house R&D and a full-stack mission approach create better outcomes

Whether you're a defence tech enthusiast or a decision-maker shaping the future battlespace, this episode provides insight on what’s next in tactical unmanned systems.