Airbus has successfully conducted the first flight of its "Bird of Prey" autonomous interceptor drone, achieving a key milestone just nine months after development began. The drone is designed to detect and neutralize hostile kamikaze drones in a cost-effective manner, addressing the growing threat posed by such systems in modern conflicts.

The program's rapid development and low-cost focus are direct responses to the strategic impact of drone warfare observed in Ukraine and the Middle East. These conflicts have demonstrated the urgent need for affordable and scalable counter-drone solutions to protect military and civilian infrastructure.

The Bird of Prey is an autonomous interceptor, meaning it can operate without direct human piloting for its engagement sequence. Its primary mission is to physically collide with and destroy incoming threat drones, a method known as "kinetic defeat." Airbus emphasizes that the system is being developed to be significantly more affordable than traditional missile-based air defense systems, aiming to make widespread deployment financially feasible.

This first flight validates the drone's basic flight capabilities and marks the start of a broader test campaign. The successful debut positions Airbus to compete in the rapidly expanding market for counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS), where demand is driven by the proliferation of low-cost, commercially available drones used for attacks.

Après seulement neuf mois de développement, Airbus réussit le premier vol de son drone intercepteur autonome capable de détecter et de neutraliser des drones kamikazes à des coûts abordables, afin de répondre à la montée des nouvelles menaces aériennes. Les conflits en Ukraine et au Moyen-Orient montrent chaque jour l’importance stratégique des drones kamikazes sur […]

Cet article Airbus valide le premier vol de son drone intercepteur Bird of Prey a été publié par VIPress.net.