Agilica and DronePort have entered a strategic partnership to accelerate the deployment of autonomous drone operations across industrial, maritime, and security sectors.
The collaboration centers on the integration of Agilica’s ultra-wideband (UWB) positioning and navigation systems within the DronePort innovation hub in Sint-Truiden. As a deep-tech spin-off from the Royal Military Academy – Belgium, Agilica specializes in GNSS-independent technology designed for challenging environments where traditional satellite signals are unavailable or unreliable. This technology is critical for complex tasks such as landing drones on sea vessels or conducting inspections in confined industrial spaces.
The partnership will be formally inaugurated in March 2026 with a live demonstration at the DronePort facility. This event will feature the debut of a permanent UWB positioning installation within DronePort’s drone cage, providing a dedicated space to showcase precision loitering and landing capabilities. By utilizing DronePort’s controlled airspace and validation infrastructure, the two organizations aim to bridge the gap between laboratory development and real-world industrial application.
Ward Declauwe, CEO of DronePort, commented, “DronePort was created to help innovative drone technologies move from concept to operation. Partnering with Agilica allows us to demonstrate cutting-edge autonomous capabilities in a real-world environment and to support the next generation of drone applications.”
For Agilica, the hub serves as a primary site to build market readiness and stakeholder confidence. The facility allows end users to evaluate how GNSS-independent systems perform in realistic operational contexts.
Hafeez Chaudhary, CEO of Agilica, added, “Autonomous drone operations demand positioning systems that work reliably where GNSS cannot. This partnership with DronePort allows us to validate, demonstrate, and mature our technology in a realistic operational environment, giving customers and partners confidence that these capabilities are ready for real-world deployment.”
Bart Scheers, COO of Agilica, stated, “Precision landing and navigation in GNSS-denied environments remains one of the biggest challenges in drone autonomy. This partnership with DronePort allows us to showcase what is now possible, not as a concept, but as a working operational capability.”
Moving forward, the collaboration will extend beyond the initial March demonstration to include joint marketing initiatives, pilot projects, and ongoing customer demonstrations. This alliance reinforces the regional ecosystem in Belgium as a significant center for advanced autonomous flight and navigation research.
