Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Defence
  • /
  • MBDA demos Sky Warden advances at FIA2024

Defence Security Events

MBDA demos Sky Warden advances at FIA2024

MBDA has demonstrated a new effector concept for its Sky Warden counter-uncrewed aerial systems (C-UAS) modular solution at the Farnborough International Airshow (FIA) 2024.


Image courtesy MBDA

The new effector concept on show is a ground launched anti-air munition targeting threats that include Class 1 & smaller Class 2 small uncrewed aircraft systems (sUAS) and Loitering Munitions. Collaborating with Fortem Technologies and utilising their DroneHunter technology, the concept enables the rapid incorporation of a warhead on a drone to defeat threats at lower cost. Tests of the munition has proved its effectiveness and lethality.

Advertisement
ADS S&P RT

Éric Béranger, CEO of MBDA, said: “Our flagship Sky Warden modular C-UAS system is designed to evolve at the same rapid speed as the drone threat the world now faces, as demonstrated so effectively in recent trials. This latest effector solution shows MBDA in our best light: innovative and agile, adapting to the environment around us, and anticipating our customers’ needs. The exciting advance MBDA have made with this effector is in creating an independent warhead design that operators can add to a drone in the battlefield. It demonstrates our collaboration DNA, partnering with an emerging technology company to create a new low-cost counter drone effector.”

The company will also draw on its recent successful operational demonstration, where MBDA’s flagship C-UAS solution demonstrated its capabilities to 17 customer delegations.

These recent customer demonstrations saw Sky Warden faced with a wide range of offensive drone threats - with varying kinetic characteristics and in realistic operational scenarios - neutralising them all. Using artificial intelligence (AI) to assist its human operators to identify and classify the different threats from its full set of sensors (e.g. radar, passive RF and electro-optical cameras), Sky Warden automatically assigned to the most appropriate and available effector maximising the efficiency. In the threat scenarios Sky Warden faced, it blocked attacking drones with jammers, captured them with hunter drones, neutralised them in rapid sequence by laser and destroyed a ‘shahed-like’ drone with a Mistral 3 missile at very long distance.

Advertisement
Cranfield

With the tests of its new effector concept and the recent demonstration in Italy, MBDA sees an RF guided drone-style effector with a directional fragmenting warhead complementing the effects that Sky Warden already provides, giving customers more options to adapt it to their preferred needs.

Drawn from MBDA’s wide experience in air defence and effects management, Sky Warden is a scalable system that can effectively neutralise any form of threat, from tactical drones to reconnaissance mini-drones, as well as other traditional ‘air breathing’ threats. The system manages the full C-UAS kill chain from detection to neutralisation and is designed to operate both as an integrated component in a layered air defence architecture, or in a standalone configuration. Using a networked eco-system of constantly evolving sensors and effectors, Sky Warden matches the UAS threat and its evolutions.

Vehicle mounted or dismounted, Sky Warden provides mobility and deployment. Being modular, scalable and evolvable, it can be tailored to specific requirements.

Advertisement
PTC PTC
HMS Sutherland returns to sea after upgrade

Defence

HMS Sutherland returns to sea after upgrade

12 February 2025

Following a significant modernisation programme and upgrade by Babcock, HMS Sutherland has set sail for initial training prior to sea trials – marking a major milestone in her journey back to full operational capability with the Royal Navy.

Thales to support Royal Navy communications

Defence

Thales to support Royal Navy communications

12 February 2025

Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) has awarded Thales UK a contract to maintain the Royal Navy’s internal and external fleet communications and provide 24/7 global support operations, for the next 10 years.

Lockheed Martin helps Marshall mark 50 years as first HSC

Defence Events

Lockheed Martin helps Marshall mark 50 years as first HSC

11 February 2025

Marshall and Lockheed Martin have come together to celebrate a major milestone in their long-standing partnership this week, with leaders from both companies gathering in Cambridge, UK, to mark the 50th anniversary of Marshall’s appointment as the world’s first C-130 Hercules Service Centre (HSC).

Prisoners help address MoD environmental challenges

Defence Security

Prisoners help address MoD environmental challenges

11 February 2025

Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) has joined forces with His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) to help prisoners develop their horticulture skills, as part of a wider sustainability initiative to plant 30,000 trees (20 hectares) on Ministry of Defence (MoD) land.

Advertisement
ODU RT
UK-India defence agreements secured at Aero India 2025

Defence Events

UK-India defence agreements secured at Aero India 2025

11 February 2025

The UK-India strategic partnership has taken another major step forward with the formal launch of Defence Partnership – India (DP-I) and the signing of several defence agreements at Aero India 2025.

UK Government reduces bureaucracy for apprenticeships

Aerospace Defence

UK Government reduces bureaucracy for apprenticeships

11 February 2025

Coinciding with National Apprenticeship Week, the UK Government has cut red tape to boost economic growth by giving employers more flexibility over maths and English requirements, enabling up to 10,000 more apprentices to qualify per year.

Advertisement
Cranfield