Belgian company ALX Systems to deploy 50 autonomous kamikaze drones in Ukraine against Russian forces.

Belgian company ALX Systems is preparing to deploy up to 50 autonomous loitering munitions in Ukraine to conduct live combat strikes against Russian forces in the Zaporizhzhia region.

The operation will validate the combat effectiveness of its low-cost kamikaze drones under real battlefield conditions, focusing on autonomous targeting and resistance to electronic warfare, a critical capability in high-intensity conflicts. Multiple missions, following earlier non-combat trials in eastern Ukraine, will assess operational reliability and strike performance, directly impacting drone warfare effectiveness, force attrition rates, and tactical adaptability on the modern battlefield.

Read also: Belgium’s ALX Systems Introduces Fully Belgian-Made Tactical Loitering Munition

The drone from ALX Systems operates with a high degree of autonomy, allowing it (and its explosive payload of 2 to 3 kilograms) to reach its target without continuous human guidance after launch. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

On March 23, 2026, Geoffrey Mormal, CEO of the Belgian company ALX Systems, confirmed to L'Avenir that it will test between 20 and 50 of its autonomous kamikaze drones in Ukraine within weeks, with the explicit objective of engaging Russian targets in the Zaporizhzhia region. The objective is to conduct live combat testing following earlier non-combat trials, in order to validate its performance under operational conditions that include electronic interference, target acquisition constraints, and real-time engagement requirements. The scale of the deployment remains limited but large enough to generate statistically relevant feedback across multiple missions.

The Belgian drones are categorized as low-cost, expendable systems designed to neutralize infantry, light vehicles, and lightly protected infrastructure, reflecting a category that dominates current battlefield usage. The deployment also marks the entry of a Belgian manufacturer into a segment largely dominated by international suppliers such as Ukraine, Russia, China, Israel, or the United States. The operational phase will take place on the Zaporizhzhia front, where electronic warfare activity is sustained and includes GNSS jamming and signal disruption across multiple frequency bands.

Earlier tests of the Belgian drone conducted in January in eastern Ukraine, including the Donbas area, were limited to verifying onboard electronics, navigation stability, and resistance to interference without engaging targets. These tests confirmed that the drone could maintain basic functionality but did not address full mission execution. The upcoming phase introduces live strikes, allowing evaluation of targeting accuracy, detonation reliability, resistance to disruption during terminal phases, and mission completion rates. As noted by Geoffrey Mormal, this step is required to determine whether system performance observed in controlled environments really translates into operational effectiveness, with a development based on battlefield feedback. 

The drone itself is an unnamed loitering munition carrying an explosive payload of 2 to 3 kilograms, a level sufficient to neutralize small infantry groups and disable light vehicles, aligning with common tactical use cases observed in Ukraine. It is not capable of penetrating armored vehicles or heavily fortified positions, where the payload would be, according to Mormal, "a dud". The drone is designed as a one-way attack drone, with no recovery expected after launch, placing it within the expendable category that dominates Ukraine's drone warfare. This operational model prioritizes cost and availability over durability. The payload configuration allows flexibility between impact detonation and pre-impact explosion, depending on engagement needs. 

The drone operates autonomously once launched, removing dependence on continuous operator control and reducing vulnerability to electronic jamming. This design choice reflects the reality that radio links are frequently disrupted or denied in contested areas. Navigation is adapted for GNSS-denied environments, allowing the drone to maintain trajectory without reliance on satellite signals. Communication systems incorporate anti-jamming features, but the operational concept assumes limited or no real-time control during the mission. Detonation can occur on direct impact or through proximity triggering, depending on mission parameters. Compared to FPV drones, which require constant manual input and are highly susceptible to signal disruption, this system shifts toward pre-programmed autonomy.

This increases resilience but reduces the ability to adjust targeting after launch. The industrial approach of ALX Systems is centered on cost minimization and rapid production, with a unit price of about 5,000 € excluding the explosive payload. This price point is significantly lower than many competing loitering munitions, which can range from 25,000 € to 40,000 € per unit. The drone can be assembled in approximately one hour using basic tools, enabling decentralized production and rapid scaling if supply chains are maintained. The company develops its systems entirely in-house, including avionics, propulsion, electronics, and software, ensuring full control over design and manufacturing. This reduces dependency on external suppliers and mitigates risks associated with component shortages.

The supply chain is intentionally kept short to maintain production continuity. The model prioritizes simplicity, reproducibility, and faster design modifications over complexity. The company’s evolution reflects a shift driven by market constraints and operational demand. Geoffrey Mormal began developing drone concepts in 2008, focusing initially on integrating computing systems into remotely piloted aircraft for civilian applications. The company later formalized its activities and targeted sectors such as industrial security and infrastructure monitoring. Regulatory constraints and limited commercial viability reduced opportunities in the civilian market, prompting a gradual shift toward defense applications.

The company experienced a bankruptcy in 2023 due to supply chain disruptions, but it was followed by an immediate reacquisition and restructuring by its founder. The relaunch involved a focus on fully integrated systems developed internally, with reduced reliance on external components. The Ukrainian operational environment in which ALX Systems will test its drones is characterized by a large-scale drone usage, with daily consumption reaching up to 9,000 units and monthly usage exceeding 270,000 in high-intensity periods. Strike drones are typically expended in a single mission, creating continuous demand for replacement systems. Production capacity has been expanded to several million units per year to meet this demand.

Electronic warfare is now a defining effectiveness factor, with widespread jamming affecting navigation, communication, and targeting systems. Drones that rely on autonomy rather than continuous control have higher mission completion rates under these conditions. The battlefield is saturated with drones performing surveillance, targeting, and strike functions simultaneously. Attrition rates are high, requiring constant replenishment. Low-cost systems are therefore essential to sustain operational tempo. The deployment of ALX drones also illustrates both the opportunities, constraints, and structural changes in warfare and the defense industry. Smaller companies are increasingly able to design and field effective systems without the scale of traditional defense contractors.

The widespread use of low-cost loitering munitions has introduced a cost-exchange dynamic where relatively inexpensive systems can neutralize higher-value targets. This has shifted emphasis toward quantity and replaceability rather than durability and complexity. At the same time, limitations remain in terms of production capacity, integration into coordinated operations, and survivability against layered defenses. Competition among manufacturers is increasing as demand grows. The emphasis on in-house development by ALX Systems also reflects growing concerns about supply chain security and technological control, two factors that the company experienced firsthand.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.