Product profile
DEFENDAIR
DEFENDAIR is MBDA’s compact counter-UAS interceptor for engaging small and medium drones at ranges beyond five kilometres. The design uses Enforcer-derived...
Facts
- Company
- MBDA
- Product type
- counter_uas_interceptor
- Status
- development
- Primary capability
- counter-UAS mass interception
About DEFENDAIR
DEFENDAIR is MBDA’s compact interceptor for engaging small and medium unmanned aircraft at ranges beyond five kilometres. The missile uses technology derived from the Enforcer family and is designed around affordable manufacturing and high-volume production. A multi-round launcher provides 360-degree coverage and can engage several threats during a saturation attack.
The interceptor forms part of a layered counter-UAS architecture incorporating external detection, tracking and command systems. MBDA is developing the weapon for fixed-site, vehicle and mobile force protection, with an emphasis on low cost per engagement. The programme remains in development and is intended to progress toward operational availability later in the decade.
Market context
true, counter_uas_interceptor, other, Counter-UAS Interceptor, counter_uas_interceptor
Summary
Type: Counter-UAS interceptor
Core: Mass interception
Function: Defeat
Audience: Air-defence operators
Operations
- Environment
- air
- Primary user
- air_defence_operators
- Role
- interception
- Interaction model
- human_commanded
- Product detail
- true, counter_uas_interceptor, other, Counter-UAS Interceptor, counter_uas_interceptor
Research, Articles and recent verified events
- MBDA unveils Counter Mass Interceptor for mass drone attacks — 2026-07-20
- Intracom Defense wins MBDA Deutschland DefendAir datalink contract — 2026-07-01
- Unifly and MBDA sign partnership for end-to-end C-UAS solutions — 2026-06-15
- MBDA formalises robotics as a strategic defence technology focus — 2026-01-14
- MBDA Deutschland and brigkAIR launch Swarm Drone Challenge 2026 — 2025-11-14