Airbus has successfully tested a new jet-powered interceptor drone designed to counter the fastest-growing threats: low-cost kamikaze drones.
The unmanned system, called “Bird of Prey,” completed its first demonstration flight at a military training area in northern Germany. During the test, the drone autonomously searched for, detected, and classified a one-way attack drone before engaging it with a lightweight missile developed by Frankenburg Technologies.
In a mission scenario, the interceptor carried out the full kill chain without direct human control. It identified a medium-sized kamikaze drone and fired a Mark I air-to-air missile, successfully engaging the target.
The test marks a significant milestone, demonstrating a fully integrated airborne system capable of:
- Autonomous detection and tracking
- Target classification
- Missile-based interception
This combines the traditional air-defense process into a single, mobile platform, reducing response times against fast-moving threats.
The system resolves a major challenge which has been highlighted in recent conflicts, including Ukraine and the Middle East, the issue of expensive missiles being shot down by inexpensive drones.
Airbus and Frankenburg are positioning the Bird of Prey as a cost-effective alternative:
- The interceptor drone is reusable
- The Mark I missile is lightweight and relatively inexpensive
- Multiple targets can be engaged in a single mission
Frankenburg claims the system could deliver an “order-of-magnitude reduction in cost per intercept,” potentially making large-scale drone defence economically sustainable.
The prototype is based on a modified Airbus Do-DT25 drone and features:
- Wingspan: 2.5 meters
- Maximum take-off weight: 160 kg
- Speed: up to ~555 km/h
The test version carried four missiles, while future operational variants are expected to carry up to eight.
The Mark I missile itself is designed for short-range engagements:
- Purpose: to counter low-cost, low-speed drones (Shahed-type) in close-range aerial combat
- Range: up to 1.5 km
- Dimensions: 65-66cm, under 2 kg
- Type: fire-and-forget
- Performance: Uses an electro-optical, "fire-and-forget" seeker with a 0.5 kg fragmentation warhead for high-accuracy, 2 km range
- Cost: USD 50,000 – 52,000 per unit
Its small size and low weight make it one of the lightest guided interceptor missiles developed, optimized for mass production and repeated use.
Airbus says the system is designed to integrate into NATO’s air-defence networks via its battle management software, allowing it to function as part of a layered defence architecture rather than a standalone solution.
This means the interceptor could:
- Complement ground-based air defence systems
- Protect forward units and infrastructure
- Help preserve high-end missiles for more complex threats
The test comes amid growing concern over mass drone attacks, where large numbers of inexpensive UAVs overwhelm traditional defences.
The Bird of Prey concept reflects a broader shift toward:
- Distributed, scalable air defence
- Lower-cost intercept solutions
- Rapid deployment systems
By combining a reusable drone with low-cost missiles, Airbus aims to create a system capable of handling high-volume aerial threats at scale—a key requirement in modern warfare.
Airbus and Frankenburg Technologies plan additional test flights throughout 2026, including live warhead demonstrations, as they move toward operational deployment.
If successful, the Bird of Prey could represent a new class of air defence systems, redefining how militaries respond to the growing threat of low-cost, high-volume drone warfare.
More on drone technology:
Volkswagen in Talks to Produce Iron Dome Components at German Plant: https://www.thestrategicperspective.org/volkswagen-in-talks-to-produce-iron-dome-components-at-german-plant/
Alpine Triangle: Germany and Austria’s Airspace Surveillance: https://www.thestrategicperspective.org/alpine-triangle-germany-and-austria-airspace-surveillance/
Turkey-Egypt Agreement to jointly produce VTOL drones in Cairo: https://www.thestrategicperspective.org/turkey-egypt-agreement-to-jointly-produce-vtol-drones-in-cairo/
MoD clears big arms deals, including BrahMos, armed drones, worth Rs 67,000cr: https://www.thestrategicperspective.org/mod-clears-big-arms-deals-including-brahmos-armed-drones-worth-67000cr/
India awarded observer status in 4 nation Eurodrone program: https://www.thestrategicperspective.org/india-awarded-observer-status-in-4-nation-eurodrone-program/
