WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. and LONDON — November 10, 2025 — Leads & Copy — VisionWave Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: VWAV) has announced the upcoming field testing of its Varan UGV, a next-generation, highly autonomous and modular ground platform. The Varan UGV is engineered to transform the modern battlefield.
Testing is scheduled to begin in December 2025 in Europe with a major defense industry partner, pending required regulatory approvals.
According to VisionWave, the Varan represents a fundamental shift in defense innovation, responding to the new reality where small drones can neutralize heavily armored vehicles. The company asserts that the Varan is at the forefront of the next drone revolution, this time on the ground, as the balance of power shifts from traditional armor to autonomous intelligence.
The Varan lizard inspires the name, reflecting its ability to move with precision, remain undetected, and dominate terrain through AI-driven autonomy.
VisionWave says that the Varan is built as a force multiplier, designed for exceptional mobility, adaptability, and modularity. Its proprietary drive train employs independently actuated suspension legs, combining the agility of robotic platforms with the speed of wheeled vehicles and the terrain dominance of tracked systems.
Powered by VisionWave’s 4D radar and proprietary autonomous navigation engine, the Varan operates individually and in coordinated swarms. It navigates complex terrain, avoids obstacles, and detects ground and aerial threats in real time.
The platform’s modularity allows rapid reconfiguration with payloads, including:
- Counter-UAS modules for air-threat interception and perimeter defense
- Active Protection Systems (APS) for vehicle survivability
- Remote Weapon Systems (RWS) for tactical engagement
- Troop and supply transport configurations
- CASEVAC modules for casualty evacuation and battlefield medical support
Available in electric and hybrid variants, the Varan is optimized for stealth, endurance, and rapid deployment, delivering autonomy, reduced logistical footprint, and cost efficiency compared with comparable systems, according to VisionWave.
VisionWave’s UK engineering team, led by Jez Williman, Head of Ground Vehicle Development, designed and built the Varan in Britain using scalable, interoperable architecture to support mass production and multi-domain integration.
Noam Kenig, Chief Executive Officer of VisionWave, stated that the Varan represents a new generation of battlefield intelligence and is more than a vehicle but a living system of automation and adaptability. Kenig recalled being a participant in early autonomous vehicle research projects that contributed to the broader ecosystem showcased in the DARPA Grand Challenge. He stated that it feels like a full-circle moment to see how far autonomous mobility has advanced and that Varan stands ready to lead the unmanned warfare revolution as UGVs evolve.
Williman added that the Varan was designed entirely from the ground up as a true autonomous vehicle, with every system, actuator, and algorithm developed in-house to achieve extreme terrain capability, reliability, and serviceability.
The result, according to Williman, is a compact, interoperable platform with anticipated multi-hit lightweight armor pending formal ballistic certification, simplified maintenance, and exceptional scalability across mission types. Williman stated that whether deployed as a single unit or within a swarm, the Varan adapts instantly from reconnaissance to resupply to defense. He added, “This is autonomy you can trust, maintain, and multiply.”
VisionWave said that the upcoming European field trials will demonstrate the Varan’s swarm coordination, modular payload integration, and all-terrain endurance, positioning the company as a global leader in autonomous multi-domain defense innovation.
Varan is the first in a family of next-generation ground autonomy systems currently in development at VisionWave.
Investor Contact: investors@vwav.inc
Website: https://www.vwav.inc
Source: VisionWave Holdings, Inc.
