DSEI 2025: ARQUIMEA Presents GRIFO Launcher Delivering Rapid Precision Firepower With Q-SLAM-40 Loitering Drones.

During DSEI UK 2025 in London, the Spanish company ARQUIMEA introduced GRIFO, a modular multi-launcher system designed to deploy loitering munitions from unmanned ground platforms. The system, showcased on the DUMA Spectre 8×8 UGV, integrates five Q-SLAM-40 launchers, offering a combination of mobility, autonomy, and precision strike capability. At a time when loitering munitions are reshaping land warfare, the unveiling demonstrates how modular launchers and unmanned systems can be combined to deliver scalable firepower with reduced operational risk.
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The unveiling of GRIFO at DSEI 2025 illustrates the rapid European shift toward integrating unmanned platforms and loitering systems into combined-arms operations. The pairing of an autonomous ground vehicle with intelligent loitering munitions reflects broader NATO objectives to strengthen precision, survivability, and adaptability in contested environments (Picture source: Army Recognition Group)

GRIFO has been engineered as a versatile solution that can be mounted on different vehicles beyond the Spectre 8×8, adapting to the mission profiles of modern armies. Its configuration of five launch tubes provides a higher volume of fire compared to single-launch systems, enabling saturation attacks or coordinated engagements against multiple targets. Designed for rapid reaction, the system ensures tactical flexibility by supporting collaborative operations with counter-drone jammers, allowing it to function effectively in contested electromagnetic environments. ARQUIMEA also complements this ecosystem with SkyBlock, a man-portable anti-drone device designed to neutralize hostile UAVs by inhibiting their communications.

At the core of this system is the Q-SLAM-40 loitering munition, a compact and intelligent drone optimized for short- to medium-range operations. Combining surveillance and strike functions, it allows operators to detect, track, and engage enemy assets with precision. Equipped with a 40 mm-class warhead, the Q-SLAM-40 is effective against armored vehicles, fortified positions, and moving targets. Its loitering capability extends mission duration, offering operators the ability to confirm targets before initiating strikes, thereby reducing collateral damage and increasing operational efficiency. The munition’s design also reflects the need for cost-effective precision weapons capable of surviving in environments saturated with electronic warfare and advanced air defenses.

The development of GRIFO and its integration with the Q-SLAM-40 draws directly on lessons learned from recent conflicts, particularly in Ukraine, where loitering munitions and drones have become central to modern combat operations. ARQUIMEA’s solution sets itself apart from other European single-launch systems by providing multi-launch capacity, which enhances persistence on the battlefield and ensures that forces can conduct successive strikes without requiring immediate resupply. This approach not only increases the tempo of operations but also offers tactical commanders new options for overwhelming adversaries through simultaneous or sequential precision engagements.

From a strategic perspective, the unveiling of GRIFO at DSEI 2025 illustrates the rapid European shift toward integrating unmanned platforms and loitering systems into combined-arms operations. The pairing of an autonomous ground vehicle with intelligent loitering munitions reflects broader NATO objectives to strengthen precision, survivability, and adaptability in contested environments. Such systems reduce the exposure of soldiers to enemy fire while delivering scalable lethality, making them attractive not only for European armed forces but also for international partners seeking advanced yet versatile strike solutions.

The GRIFO system signals ARQUIMEA’s ambition to position itself as a major player in the evolution of unmanned warfare. By uniting modular launch architecture, intelligent loitering munitions, and counter-drone integration, it embodies the operational priorities of modern militaries, where flexibility, precision, and survivability are decisive factors. Its presentation at DSEI 2025 highlights how the future battlefield will increasingly rely on unmanned systems capable of both autonomous maneuver and precision strike, reshaping the balance of land combat operations.

Written by Teoman S. Nicanci – Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group

Teoman S. Nicanci holds degrees in Political Science, Comparative and International Politics, and International Relations and Diplomacy from leading Belgian universities, with research focused on Russian strategic behavior, defense technology, and modern warfare. He is a defense analyst at Army Recognition, specializing in the global defense industry, military armament, and emerging defense technologies.