Airbus has tested the Bird of Prey interceptor drone for destroying unmanned aerial vehicles
Airbus has successfully tested its new Bird of Prey UAV interception platform, based on a modified Do-DT25 drone, at a military training range in northern Germany.
During the tests, which were designed to closely simulate combat conditions, the drone independently detected, classified, and conditionally destroyed the target using a Mark I guided missile from the Estonian startup Frankenburg Technologies. Development of the project, from concept to first flight, took only nine months—an exceptionally short timeframe for defense programs.
The system’s technical specifications include a wingspan of approximately 2.5 m, a length of 3.1 m, and a maximum takeoff weight of 160 kg. The prototype is capable of carrying up to four Mark I missiles weighing less than 2 kg each, and in the production version, the number of munitions is planned to be increased to eight. The missiles operate on a “fire-and-forget” principle and engage targets with fragmentation warheads at ranges of up to 2 km.
The Bird of Prey system is designed for integration into air defense networks, specifically through NATO’s IBMS global command and control system. This will allow the interceptors to be used as a supplement to conventional air defense systems, relieving them of the burden of engaging small and numerous targets. Live-fire tests are scheduled for 2026, after which Airbus and Frankenburg plan to bring the system to market as a cost-effective countermeasure against UAVs with the potential for future functional expansion.
Earlier, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine codified and approved the Ukrainian-made JEDI Shahed Hunter unmanned aerial system for use by the Armed Forces.
Recently, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine codified and approved for use in the Armed Forces three fiber-optic FPV systems manufactured by enterprises of JSC “Ukrainian Defense Industry.”
Prior to this, the Ministry of Defense had codified and approved for use in the Armed Forces of Ukraine the domestically produced "Volynyaka" unmanned aerial system.
Earlier, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine approved the Shablya MK19(M) remotely controlled combat module for use by the troops. It is equipped with an MK19 40mm automatic grenade launcher.
