A French small and medium-sized enterprise has developed a high-speed interceptor drone designed to neutralize one-way attack UAVs such as Iran’s Shahed series and their Russian Geran derivatives. Named Fury 120, the system reflects how the widespread use of low-cost kamikaze drones in the Ukraine conflict is reshaping air defense priorities and accelerating innovation outside traditional state-led procurement programs.
The Fury 120 interceptor was independently designed and financed by ALM Meca, an Alsace-based company specializing in precision machining. Unlike most French military programs, the project did not originate from the Direction générale de l’armement (DGA) nor involve a major defense prime contractor. Instead, the initiative highlights the growing role of agile industrial players responding rapidly to operational gaps exposed by the war in Ukraine.
Low-cost loitering and one-way attack drones have become tools of strategic attrition since 2022, overwhelming air defense networks and forcing costly missile expenditures. Shahed-type UAVs, while technologically simple, exploit low-altitude flight profiles and swarm-style employment to strain detection and interception systems. As a result, armed forces are increasingly focused on affordable, scalable solutions capable of engaging large numbers of threats quickly and efficiently.
Fury 120 is designed around speed and interception performance. Measuring approximately 1.1 meters in length with a wingspan just over one meter, the interceptor is powered by a kerosene-fueled microjet engine, allowing it to reach speeds of up to 700 km/h. This performance advantage, combined with a reported 20G maneuvering capability, enhances its ability to rapidly close on targets, correct guidance errors, and maintain intercept geometry in complex low-altitude environments.
