Scale of the problem: uncrewed systems as a tool of economic pressure
Cheap and widely accessible uncrewed technology — both aerial and surface — is now being used against targets of economic significance. The consequences are felt by shipowners, insurers, and commodity recipients worldwide.
• Black Sea and Sea of Azov. According to data from the Ukrainian Ministry of Infrastructure, 14 vessels were attacked in 2025, while in July 2026 alone there were 35 strikes on ships moored in ports and 22 at sea, as well as 67 attacks on port facilities. In parallel, Ukrainian uncrewed forces are conducting a systematic campaign against the Russian merchant fleet — resulting in a sharp decline in shipping activity in the Sea of Azov. The risk also affects vessels of third countries: in early August, drones struck a cargo ship belonging to a Turkish operator near Novorossiysk, injuring three crew members.
• Strait of Hormuz and Persian Gulf. After months of crisis and a partial reopening of the route, shipping through the strait — which handles around one‑fifth of global oil trade and key LNG volumes — has not returned to predictable levels. Persistent incident risks directly affect commodity prices and energy costs in Europe.
• Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Renewed threats of blockade and attacks on merchant vessels are prompting some operators to bypass the Suez Canal. The route around the Cape of Good Hope adds thousands of nautical miles and significantly increases freight costs.
“We are at a turning point. Drones are no longer solely a military domain — they have become a tool of economic pressure. This is evident in war‑risk insurance rates on the London marine insurance market and in the decisions of shipowners, who must choose between halting transit or bearing rising costs. This is a real, measurable market problem, not a hypothetical scenario,” says Łukasz Gmys, CEO of Defence.Hub S.A.
Why this is an attractive market
The segment of protecting civilian vessels against uncrewed threats is currently underdeveloped. Merchant ships face significant restrictions regarding armament, crews are small and unable to maintain continuous airspace surveillance, and military‑grade naval solutions are inaccessible to shipowners due to cost and regulatory constraints. At the same time, demand is economically driven by war‑risk premiums, charterer requirements, and insurer pressure.
The Defence.Hub Management Board assesses that the planned modular architecture of MACS may provide a foundation for adaptation to various operational environments, including maritime. Ship protection is one of several directions being analyzed for expanding the system’s applications, alongside land‑based use.
Several system features support this potential:
• Multi‑sensor data fusion. Parallel readings and analysis from multiple sensors reduce false positives and enable detection of drones controlled via fiber‑optic links, against which RF listening alone is ineffective.
• Modular architecture. Detection, decision‑making, and effector modules form separate subsystems. A shipowner may implement detection with crew alerts only, while selecting the appropriate countermeasure according to legal requirements and port regulations.
• Decision autonomy. The time from detection to impact is measured in seconds, and small merchant‑ship crews do not maintain continuous airspace observation. The system closes the detection‑reaction loop autonomously or after operator confirmation.
The MACS system
A platform for detecting and countering advanced threats such as FPV drones — particularly those controlled via fiber‑optic links or equipped with AI modules — using multi‑sensor data fusion, artificial intelligence, and autonomous decision‑making algorithms. MACS, a lightweight turret system, is characterized by mobility, modular architecture, and adaptability to diverse operational needs. The system is currently being designed primarily for land‑based protection: shielding vehicles, transport convoys, and critical infrastructure.
Image: Defense.Hub
About the companies
Defence.Hub S.A. — a company listed on the NewConnect market. It specializes in the development and commercialization of defence and dual‑use technologies, acting as an integrator of solutions from Polish and international defence‑tech companies.
Seraphim Defence Systems P.S.A. — a Poznań‑based technology company developing MACS, a modular counter‑UAS platform for detecting and neutralizing advanced FPV drones. Finalist of the NATO Innovation Challenge 2025, member of NVIDIA Inception and the EUDIS Matchmaking Programme.
Official website of Defence.Hub S.A.
Press release
