Bird of Prey interceptor test flight | Photo: Airbus Defence and Space
Airbus has conducted the first demonstration flight of its uncrewed “Bird of Prey” interceptor drone at a military training area in northern Germany, testing its ability to counter one-way attack drones.
During the trial, the system autonomously searched for, detected and classified a medium-sized kamikaze drone. After identifying the target, the interceptor engaged it using a Mark I air-to-air missile developed by Frankenburg Technologies.
Airbus Defence and Space said the demonstration reflects a focus on countering the growing use of low-cost aerial threats in recent conflicts.
Bird of Prey interceptor test flight | Photo: Airbus Defence and Space
“Against the current geopolitical and military backdrop, defending against kamikaze drones is a tactical priority that urgently needs to be tackled,” said Mike Schoellhorn, CEO Airbus Defence and Space. “With our Bird of Prey and Frankenburg’s affordable Mark I missiles, we are providing armed forces with an effective, cost-efficient interceptor, filling a crucial capability gap in today’s asymmetric conflict theatres. The integration of Bird of Prey into Airbus’ air defence battle management suite IBMS acts as a force multiplier.”
“This is a defining step for modern air defence,” said Kusti Salm, CEO of Frankenburg Technologies. ”Together with Airbus, it marks the first integration of a new class of low-cost, mass-manufacturable interceptor missiles onto a drone, creating a new cost curve for air defence and enabling defence against mass aerial threats at a fundamentally different scale.”
The demonstration took place nine months after the project began. The prototype is based on a modified Airbus Do-DT25 drone, with a wingspan of 2.5 metres, length of 3.1 metres and maximum take-off weight of 160 kg. It carried four Mark I missiles, while an operational version is expected to carry up to eight.
Bird of Prey interceptor test flight | Photo: Airbus Defence and Space
The missiles are designed for short-range engagements of up to 1.5 kilometres. Each missile weighs under 2 kg and uses a fragmentation warhead.
The system is designed to integrate with NATO’s air defence architecture through Airbus’ Integrated Battle Management System. Airbus and Frankenburg plan further test flights in 2026, including trials with live warheads.
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