Schrobenhausen, 11 November 2025 – MBDA and the German Federal Office for Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support of the Bundeswehr (BAAINBw) signed a contract on 10 November 2025 for the development and procurement of the anti-drone guided missile system DefendAir. MBDA plans to produce large quantities of the system in Germany.
Drones are an escalating threat due to their small size, high agility, speed, and potential use in swarms, making them difficult to counter. DefendAir is a specialized guided missile system designed to address these challenges, providing advanced protection against a range of drone types. The missile will be integrated into the Skyranger 30 air defense vehicle as part of the NNbS (Near and Close-Range Protection) project, significantly enhancing Germany’s air defense capabilities.
“DefendAir is truly a game-changer in drone defense,” said Thomas Gottschild, Executive Group Director Strategy at MBDA and Managing Director of MBDA Germany GmbH. “With DefendAir, Germany is deliberately building state-of-the-art drone defense capacities—a critical contribution to Europe and NATO, closing existing capability gaps. The system leverages proven technologies from the Enforcer program, reducing development risk and ensuring the fastest possible availability. As part of the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI), DefendAir has already generated strong interest from partner nations.”
DefendAir not only meets the Bundeswehr’s national requirements for near and close-range protection against emerging aerial threats but also complements MBDA’s global portfolio. Alongside systems such as Sky Warden, the Mistral family, and CAMM (Common Anti-Air Modular Missile), DefendAir expands MBDA’s air defense offerings, reinforcing its integrated air defense solutions.
MBDA had already begun pre-contractual development of the missile to accelerate deployment and strengthen defense capabilities against drones. Between 2023 and 2025, MBDA doubled its production of new guided missiles across the group. From 2025 to 2029, the company plans to invest a further €2.4 billion to further increase production capacity.
