"Hunter" for kamikaze drones: Airbus Defence presents LOAD drone

At the Unmanned Systems X exhibition in Bonn, Germany, Airbus presented the concept of an anti-drone system called LOAD (Low-cost Air Defence). The main idea behind the development is to ensure the effective destruction of airborne targets at minimal cost.

Here's What We Know

The system is based on the Do-DT 25 jet drone, which is used as an air target for training air defence and fighter aircraft. It has a maximum speed of 550 km/h, can stay in the air for up to 60 minutes, and is launched from a catapult.

LOAD will be equipped with up to three missiles to destroy kamikaze drones such as the Shahed. It is expected that the targeting will be carried out in coordination with ground-based radars, which will reduce the cost of the drone. At the same time, the rendering lacks an optical sighting station, which may indicate the use of missile homing heads.

Although Airbus has not officially disclosed the type of missile, it is likely to be a modification of MBDA's Enforcer missile, the SADM (Small Anti Drone Missile). This missile is designed for the SkyWarden air defence system and has a combined warhead with air-to-air capability.

The first flight of the LOAD prototype is scheduled for 2025, and commissioning is planned for 2027. Despite the short timeframe for the European defence industry, current challenges require even faster project implementation.

Source: Opex360