Alta Ares to integrate target detection and guidance systems into General Cherry Bullet interceptor drones

French defence tech company Alta Ares and Ukrainian interceptor drone manufacturer General Cherry have agreed to cooperate on counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS). The partnership has been formalised through a memorandum of understanding.

Under the agreement, the companies plan to integrate Alta Ares’ software solutions — Pixel Lock and Cyclop C2 — into the Bullet interceptor drone. Pixel Lock will automate terminal guidance during the final phase of flight, while Cyclop C2 will provide guidance support during the cruise phase.

According to the Ukrainian company, the partnership will significantly improve the accuracy and resilience of aerial target interception, particularly in environments where satellite navigation is unavailable and electronic warfare systems are actively deployed.

Pixel Lock is an AI-powered software solution developed by Alta Ares for real-time detection, identification and tracking of aerial targets. It combines computer vision with data from multiple sensors to automate the interceptor’s terminal guidance phase.

Cyclop C2 is designed to support guidance during the cruise phase of flight. Integrating both systems into the Bullet platform is expected to provide guidance throughout the interception sequence — from the approach to the target area to the final engagement.

General Cherry co-founder Stanislav Hryshyn said Pixel Lock and Cyclop C2 enable more precise guidance in GPS-denied and jammed environments.

“That means more successful interceptions and fewer misses. Alta Ares brings strong AI capabilities, while we provide a drone that has already been proven in combat,” he said.

The next stage of the partnership will focus on integrating the software into the Bullet platform and conducting further testing.

Earlier, Defender Media published an in-depth interview with Alta Ares co-founder and CEO Adrien Canter, who said the company plans to invest €10 million to expand its business in Ukraine and to triple its local team in 2026.

According to Canter, around 10 Ukrainian interceptor drone manufacturers are already using Alta Ares software solutions. He expects to double the number of local customers by the end of the year.