MBDA and the German Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology, and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) have signed a contract to develop and produce the DefendAir anti-drone missile system.
According to MBDA, the agreement with BAAINBw was signed last Monday (November 10) and covers the development and large-scale production of the DefendAir missile at the company’s facilities in Schrobenhausen.
The system is being developed as part of Germany’s Short and Very Short Range Air Defense program (NNbS) and will be integrated into the Skyranger 30 air defense vehicle, according to Defence Blog.
The DefendAir missile, formerly known as the Small-Size Anti-Drone Missile, combines compact size with precision guidance to intercept drones at short and very short ranges.
MBDA emphasized that the DefendAir system is designed to neutralize small and fast drones, including swarm formations, which have become increasingly difficult to counter with conventional air defense systems.
The company also stated that the new missile will provide a significant boost to the capabilities of German air defense forces, enhancing protection against modern aerial threats.
“DefendAir is truly a game-changer in the field of drone defense,” said Thomas Gottschild, Executive Director of Strategy at MBDA Group and Managing Director of MBDA Deutschland GmbH.
“With DefendAir, Germany is building next-generation drone defense capabilities — a crucial contribution to Europe and NATO, as well as addressing existing capability gaps.”
“The system leverages proven technologies from the Enforcer program, reducing development risk and ensuring the fastest possible availability,” Gottschild added.
He also noted that the system is part of Germany’s contribution to the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI) and has already attracted significant interest from partner countries.
The company stated that preliminary development work had already begun prior to signing the contract to accelerate delivery schedules and strengthen Germany’s readiness against the increasing use of drones in modern conflicts.
Photo: MBDA. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
