The war in Ukraine has propelled drones into the spotlight of modern warfare, increasing the demand for cost-effective counter-drone systems. While traditional solutions—such as ground-based defense and cyber warfare—are effective, they come with high costs. Enter Alpine Eagle, a Munich-based defense tech startup that has developed Sentinel, an airborne AI-powered counter-drone system designed to tackle cheap, mass-produced strike drones with cost-efficient solutions.
Unlike stationary ground-based systems, Sentinel operates airborne, integrating modular sensors that avoid terrain-based limitations while minimizing exposure as a stationary target.
The system consists of:
- A mothership drone carrying AI-powered kamikaze interceptors.
- The ability to jam, capture, or destroy enemy drones.
- Radar-based tracking to detect low-flying threats that evade ground systems.
- Onboard AI processing for real-time adaptive response tactics.
Defense Contracts and Expansion Plans
Founded in 2023 by Dutch entrepreneur Jan-Hendrik Boelens, Alpine Eagle secured the German army as its first major client, alongside other government agencies. Within its first 12 months, the company achieved seven-digit revenue.
Now, Alpine Eagle has raised €10.25 million ($10.96 million) in a seed round, led by British deep tech VC firm IQ Capital, alongside returning investors General Catalyst and HCVC. Additional investors from Estonia, Germany, and Poland also participated.
With expansion into the U.K., Alpine Eagle aims to:
- Grow its team to 40 employees, focusing on AI, aeronautical engineering, and business development.
- Scale Sentinel’s capabilities to protect military bases and critical infrastructure.
- Validate and deploy Sentinel in Ukraine, refining its battlefield capabilities.
Alpine Eagle’s approach to counter-drone warfare integrates AI-driven automation, shifting soldiers from manual piloting to mission management roles.
Key Innovations:
- Swarming tactics to deploy multiple drones autonomously, limiting casualties.
- AI-powered jamming countermeasures, allowing Sentinel to adapt to evolving drone threats.
- Integration of fiber-optic drones, which evade radio frequency jamming.
- Radar detection for low-altitude threats, overcoming limitations of ground-based systems.
This strategy aligns with modern warfare trends, where automation and AI-driven autonomy are essential for force efficiency.
With U.S. defense startups like Epirus raising $250M for AI-powered microwave countermeasures, AI-driven drone warfare is advancing rapidly. Alpine Eagle positions itself as a European leader in this space, developing cost-effective, AI-enhanced countermeasures that balance autonomy, affordability, and operational effectiveness.
“Western nations face a shortage of soldiers. Our AI-driven swarming system enables a single operator to manage multiple drones, transforming them into mission managers rather than pilots.” – Jan-Hendrik Boelens
By prioritizing automation, AI-driven decision-making, and real-world validation, Alpine Eagle is shaping the future of European defense technology.
