European defense giant MBDA aims to cut the time required for complex cruise missile mission planning from hours to minutes with its new AI-powered software.
Called FastTrack, the system can generate multiple flight paths in less than 30 seconds by analyzing enemy air defenses, terrain, weather, radar coverage, and target types.
It also includes a “stealthiness” indicator that estimates how much of a missile’s flight path remains outside enemy sensor coverage, with optimized routes scoring between 75 and 85 percent.
To demonstrate its capabilities, MBDA tested FastTrack across three mission scenarios. The first simulated a time-sensitive strike on a train stopped at a station.
Another focused on a hardened command post, where the AI optimized the attack direction and synchronized simultaneous missile strikes.
The final scenario involved a target nearly 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) away, assessing the AI’s ability to plan complex long-range missions.
Faster Mission Execution
FastTrack arrives as militaries increasingly seek to shorten the “sensor-to-shooter” timeline, the period between detecting a target and engaging it.
According to the European Defense Review, the software allows mission planning to run in parallel with launcher deployment, reducing overall preparation time.
With MBDA’s land-based cruise missile launcher typically taking roughly 15 minutes to deploy, a complete engagement plan could be ready before the launcher reaches firing status.
As long-range precision weapons become more prominent on the battlefield, reducing planning time could prove just as important as extending missile range or improving accuracy.
MBDA showcased FastTrack during the Eurosatory 2026 defense exhibition in Paris.
