Germany signs deal with MBDA for new anti-drone missile
MBDA and the German Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) have signed a contract for the development and procurement of the new DefendAir anti-drone missile system, aimed at countering the growing threat of unmanned aerial vehicles.
According to MBDA, the agreement, signed on November 10, 2025, 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 (NNbS) program and will be integrated into the Skyranger 30 air defense vehicle.
MBDA said DefendAir is designed to neutralize small and fast-moving drones, including swarm formations, which have become increasingly difficult to counter using conventional air defense systems. The company emphasized that the new missile provides a major capability increase for Germany’s 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 Group Director Strategy at MBDA and Managing Director of MBDA Deutschland GmbH. “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. The system leverages proven technologies from the Enforcer program, reducing development risk and ensuring the fastest possible availability.”
Gottschild added that DefendAir is also part of Germany’s contribution to the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI) and has already attracted strong interest from partner nations.
MBDA noted that the missile meets the Bundeswehr’s national requirements for short-range air defense while fitting seamlessly into the company’s global portfolio. Alongside systems such as Sky Warden, the Mistral family, and CAMM (Common Anti-Air Modular Missile), DefendAir will expand MBDA’s integrated air defense solutions.
The company said preliminary development work had already begun before the contract signing to accelerate delivery timelines and strengthen Germany’s readiness against the increasing use of drones in modern conflicts.
Between 2023 and 2025, MBDA doubled its missile production capacity across its European sites and plans to invest another €2.4 billion ($2.8 billion) between 2025 and 2029 to further scale up manufacturing output.
The DefendAir missile, previously known as the Small Anti-Drone Missile, combines compact size with precision guidance to intercept drones across short and very short ranges. Its modular design enables integration into various ground-based air defense platforms, providing flexibility for both national and allied use.
