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07. November 2025
Germany Unveils 563 Million Missile Deal As Air Defense Plans Take Shape
Germany’s decision to approve $563 million for the development and procurement of MBDA’s DefendAir counter-drone interceptor missiles marks a significant step towards enhancing the country’s air defense capabilities. The funding, approved by the German Bundestag’s budget committee, paves the way for a contract between the Bundeswehr and MBDA Deutschland, with an additional €25 million allocated to finalize the deal.
The DefendAir program is designed to counter small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) that have become increasingly prevalent in modern warfare. The development timeline has been extended, with serial production scheduled to begin in 2029 and deliveries potentially starting in 2030. One of the key aspects of the DefendAir system is its integration with the Skyranger 30 air defense gun vehicle.
The Skyranger, combining a 30mm autocannon with sensor and command systems for short-range air defense, will be equipped with at least nine DefendAir missiles. This will enable the Skyranger to engage small drones, loitering munitions, and other low-signature threats. The technical specifications of the DefendAir missile are an adaptation of MBDA’s existing lightweight munition family, known in Bundeswehr classification as “Leichtes Wirkmittel 1.800 +”.
The new interceptor adds an air-target seeker and a booster to extend reach relative to the baseline Enforcer round. According to industry sources, the booster will raise the interceptor’s reach to roughly five kilometers, allowing it to engage small aerial threats at short ranges suitable for vehicle-mounted, point-defense roles.
Germany’s decision highlights a broader trend across Europe: armies are investing in purpose-built, missile-based counters to small unmanned systems that can be deployed on mobile platforms. The DefendAir approach – combining a seeker, a booster, and containerized launchers – reflects the operational problem many militaries now face in protecting maneuver forces and critical infrastructure from low-cost aerial threats.
The program’s timetable signals how militaries are managing risks between short-term capability gaps and longer procurement cycles. However, this timeline also raises concerns about the effectiveness of traditional defense procurement in addressing emerging threats such as those posed by small drones. Ukraine has already revolutionized air defense with its $2,500 interceptor drones, which have been successfully used to destroy Russian Shaheds every night.
NATO members are racing to copy the Ukrainian model through emergency partnerships, demonstrating the need for swift and adaptive solutions to counter the growing threat of small drones. In contrast, Germany’s approach seems overly cautious, with a procurement timeline that treats 2029 as acceptable when the battlefield reality demands solutions today. The economics also deserve scrutiny, with traditional counter-drone options varying wildly in cost – from $80 for a 20mm round to $4.2 million for a Patriot PAC-3 missile.
However, Germany’s investment does validate one critical lesson from Ukraine: you need volume. Nine to twelve missiles per Skyranger vehicle, with hundreds of Skyrangers planned, means Germany is finally thinking about counter-drone defense at scale rather than boutique capabilities. This is progress, but the timeline gap between threat and solution remains a concern.
The need for volume and swift solutions cannot be overstated, particularly in light of Ukraine’s successful counter-drone efforts. The irony is that German officials framed the move as part of ongoing modernization of ground-based air defense, yet the program’s timeline seems to prioritize existing business models over operational efficiency. This approach may ultimately prove expensive and ineffective in addressing the growing threat of small drones.
As Admiral Vandier said, “if you fire $1 million missiles at $10,000 targets, eventually you lose.” This fundamental challenge traditional defense procurement faces is that it often struggles to match the cost curve to the threat curve. In contrast, Ukraine’s approach demonstrates how volume and adaptability can be key to effective counter-drone defense.
The European Union’s “drone wall” initiative, which Germany and France have blocked, highlights the need for pan-European cooperation in addressing this growing threat. The lack of coordination between EU member states on drone mitigation strategies is a major concern, particularly given Russia’s repeated incursions with small drones across NATO airspace.
In light of these developments, it is clear that counter-drone defense requires a multifaceted approach that combines purpose-built missiles like DefendAir with existing air defense systems and adaptive solutions. The need for swift and effective responses to emerging threats cannot be overstated, particularly in the face of Russia’s growing use of small drones.
Ultimately, Germany’s investment in DefendAir marks an important step towards enhancing its air defense capabilities. However, the procurement timeline raises concerns about the effectiveness of traditional defense procurement in addressing emerging threats like small drones. The need for volume and swift solutions cannot be overstated, particularly in light of Ukraine’s successful counter-drone efforts.
The fate of Germany’s DefendAir program will ultimately depend on its ability to adapt to changing operational requirements and address the growing threat of small drones. If the Bundeswehr can successfully integrate this capability into its existing air defense systems, it may prove to be a valuable asset in countering low-cost aerial threats. However, if the procurement timeline continues to prioritize existing business models over operational efficiency, it risks becoming an expensive and ineffective solution.