The company is industrialising its SHADOX reconnaissance system designed for rapid deployment by frontline infantry units in contested environments.
Kyiv-based company Black Forest Systems has received $400,000 in investment from Front Ventures and Hede Capital Partners AB.
Founded in 2024, Black Forest Systems develops vertically integrated unmanned systems and tactical drone platforms for infantry and Special Operations Forces operating in forward positions.
Their solutions combine proprietary electronics, secure communications, and control software into vertically integrated platforms that prioritise simplicity, safety, and rapid deployment. The systems are designed so that even soldiers without drone piloting experience can operate them effectively after minimal training.
“Our mission is to shift complexity from the operator to the technology itself,” says Oleksandr Davydenko, CEO of BFS.
“We build systems that simplify decision-making and give every infantryman access to advanced unmanned capabilities.”
The company’s flagship system, SHADOX, is a compact reconnaissance platform designed for rapid deployment and effective close-range operations. Its protected propeller design enables safe use inside buildings and trenches.
The system features self-stabilisation and does not require FPV piloting skills, allowing operators to become proficient with less than 30 minutes of training. It comes with a proprietary remote control unit and uses encrypted, low-profile communications designed to function in electronic warfare (EW)-contested environments.
Unlike traditional FPV systems that rely on specialised external operators, Black Forest Systems focuses on delivering autonomous capability directly to infantry units. By reducing cognitive load and simplifying deployment, the platform allows soldiers to operate advanced drone systems without requiring extensive piloting expertise.
A key differentiator is the company’s vertically integrated approach, where both hardware and software are developed in-house. This provides full control over performance, security, supply chain resilience, and long-term scalability into broader unmanned and robotic architectures.
“Drone technology has fundamentally changed how modern conflicts are fought. Black Forest Systems represents a new generation of infantry- and special forces-adapted systems where autonomy, simplicity, and rapid deployment are central. We see strong structural growth drivers in this segment,” says Jonas Malmgren, CEO, Front Ventures.
“We invest in technologies that build long-term strategic capability. Black Forest Systems is not merely developing a drone platform — it is building a technological foundation in autonomy, electronics, and secure communications that can scale across multiple unmanned applications. We view this as a strategically important step in strengthening European defence technology capacity,” says Patrik Olson, CEO, Hede Capital Partners.
The investment strengthens Front Ventures’ and Hede Capital’s exposure to defence technology and autonomous systems, a sector characterised by structural growth, accelerating innovation cycles, and increasing geopolitical importance.
According to Alex Winter, CTO, Black Forest Systems, the round will allow the company to industrialise SHADOX — from engineering refinement to production readiness and structured military deployment.
“Together with investors Front Ventures’and Hede Capital Partners, we are building the scale and structural foundation required for a long-term defence technology platform.”