H18: Battlefield-Driven Defense Innovation

Dutch defense engineering with battlefield-informed counter-UAS development.

• Counter-UAS / interceptor systems
• Unmanned attack and ISR platforms
• Advanced battery solutions
• Rapid operational iteration

Why the Current Cost-to-Kill Is Still Too High

• Interceptors already beat missiles on cost.
• Current units cost about $3k–$5k each.
• Real engagements often need 2–3 drones per kill.
• That still means roughly $6k–$15k+ per Shahed kill.
• The next goal is a $1k interceptor.

How We Break the Cost Curve

• Target € 1,000 per interceptor.
• Increase first-pass kill probability.
• Reduce drones used per kill.
• Scale production to thousands of units.
• Keep defender cost below attacker cost.

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€ 1000

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Target unit cost

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Toward scalable interceptor defense

Goal: move from “better than missiles” to economically dominant air defense.

Guardian Angel Interceptor Capabilities

• 375 km/h top speed
• 800 m terminal auto-lock
• 5,000 m flight ceiling
• 15 km maximum range
• 600 gram HE fragementation warhead
• Standalone or SAPIENT-compliant

375 km/h Top speed

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5,000 m Flight ceiling

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15 km Range

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800 m Auto-lock

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Built for speed, reach, and scalable deployment.

How We Reach a €1,000 Interceptor

• Prefabricated modular airframe
• Injection-molded structural parts
• Standard flight electronics
• Minimal soldering
• Click-and-play assembly
• H18 high-current low-cost battery pack

Low material cost

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Low electronics cost

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Low labor cost

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Two product tiers

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Cost is reduced in parts, labor, and assembly time.

Two Deployment Models

Standalone

• Sub-€1,000 target unit cost
• Operator-guided with terminal auto-lock at 800 m
• Rapid deployment, minimal infrastructure
• Proven employment model from Ukraine operations
• Ideal for frontline and fast-response use

Sapient-Compliant

• SAPIENT on existing F405 flight controller
• ELRS/UDP datalink — no extra hardware required
• Plugs into NATO-compatible C-UAS networks
• ~20% cost premium, software-defined
• Ideal for fixed site and critical infrastructure defense

One platform. Two configurations. Scalable for any deployment context.

Interceptor Cluster Architecture

• Mobile, self-contained interceptor cluster units
• Up to 10 interceptors per node
• Each interceptor designated as a separate SAPIENT effector
• Nodes connect into the wider C-UAS network
• Clusters can be repositioned rapidly for flexible coverage
• Designed to counter saturation attacks by mass cheap UAVs

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Cluster advantages

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10 interceptors - per node

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Mobile deployment - reposition to overwhelmed sectors

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Networked nodes - SAPIENT-assigned effectors

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Scalable coverage - add nodes as threat grows

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Scalable, mobile, networked — built to defeat mass drone attacks.

Why Europe Needs This Now

• Drone threats to critical infrastructure are rising across Europe.
• The EU launched a new counter-drone action plan in February 2026.
• Europe needs faster industrial production of affordable C-UAS systems.
• Interoperable solutions are increasingly important for defense and infrastructure protection.
• Low-cost effectors are essential against mass cheap UAV attacks.

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TIE26 — Netherlands, May 2026

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Interoperability was a central focus of the exercise.

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300+ Participants in a live multinational C-UAS test environment.

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60+ systems Sensors, effectors, and C2 tested for joint integration.

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Future air defense Interoperable effectors at scale

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The future of air defense against UAV threats is scalable, interoperable, and affordable.

What H18 Is Looking For

• Pilot partners for critical infrastructure protection.
• Integration partners for SAPIENT-connected C-UAS networks.
• Launch customers for standalone and networked interceptor nodes.
• Industrial partners for scalable European production.
• Collaboration on trials, validation, and deployment.

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From concept to deployment

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Pilots - Critical infastructure

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Partners - Integration and manufacturing

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Customers - Standalone or SAPIENT-integrated nodes

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We are looking for partners who want to build deployable, affordable C-UAS capability in Europe.

Closing

H18 Defense & Intelligence Products

Battlefield-driven interceptor architecture for scalable air defense.

• Affordable interceptor effectors
• Mobile SAPIENT-connected cluster nodes
• Built for drone saturation, not legacy cost models

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Ronald Oostveen - CEO

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Ronald.Oostveen@h18defense.eu

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Www.H18Defense.eu

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We are looking for partners who want to build deployable, affordable C-UAS capability in Europe.