Germany is expanding its short-range air-defense capabilities with the development and acquisition of MBDA’s new Small Anti-Drone Missile (SADM), officially designated DefendAir. The missile is purpose-built to counter the rising threat posed by small unmanned aerial systems, particularly those seen in recent conflicts such as the war in Ukraine. Designed for full integration with the Skyranger 30 air-defense turret, the system will significantly enhance Germany’s ability to intercept drones that currently challenge ground forces.
MBDA Germany has been awarded the contract to develop and deliver the missile, backed by a 490-million-euro ($568 million) funding package previously approved by the Bundestag Budget Committee. According to program details, more than two-thirds of the funding will support the SADM’s development and qualification process. Full-scale production is scheduled to begin in 2029, with operational deliveries to the German Armed Forces expected the following year.
The Skyranger 30 platform, produced by Rheinmetall, already features a 30mm KCE-ABM cannon capable of firing programmable airburst rounds to destroy drones, low-flying aircraft, and rotorcraft. Rheinmetall has incorporated an integrated launcher into the Skyranger turret to support the new missile. Depending on tube configuration, the launcher can carry nine to twelve missiles, expanding the system’s layered defensive capability against Class 1 drones weighing up to 150 kilograms.
The SADM extends the Skyranger’s effective engagement range from 2 kilometers to 6 kilometers, giving each vehicle the capacity to neutralize up to 30 drones in a single engagement when combined with the cannon. Based on MBDA’s proven Enforcer shoulder-fired missile technology, DefendAir benefits from reduced development risks and faster timelines. Production will take place at MBDA’s Schrobenhausen facility, with about 90 percent of the missile’s industrial value generated in Germany and additional components sourced from the UK.
