Airbus Defence LOAD Drone that fight drones.

Michel Van

Michel Van

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Airbus unveils a New Drone LOAD
It's task is intercept enemies drones and destroy them.
based on Do-DT25 drone equip with up to three guided missiles over range of 100 km.
then return to base and land with parachute for reuse.

source:
https://www.aviacionline.com/airbus-unveils-load-an-unmanned-system-against-kamikaze-drones
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What missiles is it armed with? Enforcer from MBDA Germany from the picture? Pretty short range and not that cheap.
 
To me when I first saw it I thought it looks like Akeron MP with different fins but yes likely an Enforcer.
 
Unless it fires manpads the cost balance is still in favor of the attacker, and even if it does it’s still a close thing. Maybe launching aa fpv drones could help in this regard, or using apkws?
 
The missile shown in the render is most likely the MBDA Germany Small Anti Drone Missile (SADM) a variant/derivative of Enforcer optimised for use against UAVs.
In its ground launched version using a rocket booster its maximum range is 5-6 km. Air-launched without the booster the range would depend on speed and altitude of the aircraft.
Image Source: hartpunkt
 

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World B4 said:
Maybe launching aa fpv drones could help in this regard, or using apkws?
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Plenty of European options available… Thales UK LMM/Martlet, Thales Belgium FZ 70mm laser guided rockets, Thales France Aculeus 68mm LGRs etc.

But god forbid Airbus Germany would have to partner with another European (non German) company… not in their DNA.
 
H_K said:
Plenty of European options available… Thales UK LMM/Martlet, Thales Belgium FZ 70mm laser guided rockets, Thales France Aculeus 68mm LGRs etc.

But god forbid Airbus Germany would have to partner with another European (non German) company… not in their DNA.
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Considering this is probaly an inhouse job for which they just took whatever they had as 3D model. Afterall that model doesn't really show SADM or any alternative anti drone missile but something akin to Pars 3.
 
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MBDA have show off Enforcer on aircraft in their catalogues before, though previously it was in a cannister version. A non-cannister Enforcer in an air-to-air role was previously shown off in Brazil in 2023 as part of a partnership between MBDA and XMobots.

LAAD-23-MBDA-XMobots_1.jpg


While similar a couple of things tell you the Airbus concept is not a PARS 3 LR, firstly the PARS has the tailfins right at the back rather than in front of the motor, secondly the PARS has a full diameter transparent seeker cover whereas Enforcer only has a small window in the seeker head for its IR seeker. The other thing that tells me that its likely not a PARS is the PARS weighs 50kg and is designed for use by helicopters, Enforcer missile is much lighter weight, <10kg with exact amount varying by version as was designed principally as a MANPAD. That makes it much more suitable for a drone.
 
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From the item @Michel Van linked to:
The LOAD system is based on modified Airbus Do-DT25 drones, each capable of carrying up to three guided missiles (or more, depending on the type of armament). These drones are launched by catapult and have a range of 100 kilometers, with supervision from a ground control station. Using radar data or aerial situation imagery, they can autonomously search for, detect, and neutralize threats after receiving authorization. Once their mission is complete, they return to base and land via parachute, ready to be reused in future operations.
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If it's got the weight capacity for it, a pair of 4-shot or even 7-shot Hydra pods with APKWS or the German-made equivalent thereof would be better.
 
Scott Kenny said:
If it's got the weight capacity for it, a pair of 4-shot or even 7-shot Hydra pods with APKWS or the German-made equivalent thereof would be better.
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Already as-is I'm wondering how it's supposed to take off.
 
Scott Kenny said:
If it's got the weight capacity for it, a pair of 4-shot or even 7-shot Hydra pods with APKWS or the German-made equivalent thereof would be better.
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Assuming it fits the weight, Launch and landing requierments then probaly any solution could be Chosen as effector
 

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