Germany’s Skyranger 30 air defense system is getting improved short-range firepower thanks to MBDA’s DefendAir anti-drone missile system.
The Budget Committee of the Bundestag announced the deal with Paris-based MBDA as part of the country’s short- and very short-range air defense program.
MBDA’s DefendAir missiles are designed to engage small, fast-moving drones, including swarm formations, giving German forces a modern solution against advanced aerial threats.
Integration into the Skyranger 30s marks the first time German troops will field an armored frontline system dedicated to countering small drones.
“DefendAir is truly a game-changer in the field of drone defense,” said MBDA Executive Group Director Strategy Thomas Gottschild.
“With DefendAir, Germany is building state-of-the-art drone defense capabilities — a crucial contribution to Europe and NATO as well as to closing existing capability gaps.
Behind the Deal
While the deal was formalized on November 10, MBDA said early development work had already begun to accelerate timelines and enhance Germany’s counter-drone systems.
MBDA is under contract to produce the missile system until 2032, investing 2.4 billion euros ($2.8 billion) over the next four years to scale up manufacturing.
The missiles are part of Germany’s participation in the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI). MBDA also noted that DefendAir meets the Bundestag’s standards for short-range air defense systems.
According to Gottschild, the DefendAir system is getting “strong support” from other EU countries as their contribution to ESSI.
