Foreign media reported that at the recent Unmanned Systems Exhibition held in Bonn, Germany, Airbus launched a "low-cost air defense system" for the first time. The system is modified by adding small air-to-air missiles to the current target drones, and is mainly used to deal with drones. Airbus said it plans to test the prototype before the end of the year. Schematic diagram of the "low-cost air defense system" with two small air-to-air missiles. The "low-cost air defense system" pursues low cost and rapid production. To this end, Airbus chose the Do-DT25 target drone developed by the European Aeronautic Defense Group as the prototype for modification. The Do-DT25 target drone uses a twin-turbojet engine and a backpack air intake. It is 3.1 meters long, has a wingspan of 2.5 meters, a maximum take-off weight of 144 kilograms, a maximum flight speed of 556 kilometers per hour, a maximum flight altitude of 10,000 meters, and a flight time of 60 minutes. Since the target drone adopts a modular design, the modification work is relatively simple. The "low-cost air defense system" is launched through a pneumatic ejection device on a fixed or vehicle-mounted platform launcher, recovered by a parachute, and can be reused. According to Airbus' design, the "low-cost air defense system" can carry 2 to 3 small air-to-air missiles. The alternative air-to-air missile may be a small missile developed by the European Missile Group based on anti-tank missiles. The missile is 1 meter long and weighs about 9 kilograms. It uses an infrared seeker and a proximity/trigger fuze. It can strike unprotected infantry and light armored vehicles, and can also strike targets behind bunkers by air explosion. The missile has a range of 2 to 6 kilometers and has the characteristics of high strike accuracy and small collateral damage. In addition, the missile can also be used in a variety of combat scenarios by replacing different warheads and aiming systems. According to the introduction, the "low-cost air defense system" will autonomously search and detect targets by receiving radar data and air situation images from the ground control station during use, and the operator will issue a strike command. The system is mainly used to intercept suicide drones. This type of drone has strong anti-interference ability and good flight concealment. It often fights in clusters. In the past, air defense missiles were used to intercept them, but the interception effect was general and the cost was high. If the "low-cost air defense system" is used to mount missiles for air interception, it can not only expand the interception range, but also save costs relatively. The tactical concept of the "low-cost air defense system" to use drones to "defeat" drones has attracted attention from the outside world. In fact, the modification cost of the system is not low, and compared with some suicide drones that have appeared, it does not have obvious combat advantages, but the design concept is worthy of attention.
