The weapons were unveiled on Monday by defence company Helsing, forming part of its new Contra air defence system.
The programme seeks to combat Russia’s most sophisticated jet-powered drones and cruise missiles at a time when such munitions have bombarded Ukraine in recent weeks. Advanced Terminator-style AI, connected to radars and sensors, can rapidly identify aerial threats before deciding whether to deploy one of two new interceptor missiles: the AD-1 Inferno and AD-2 Ambush.
This is similar to Israel’s “Iron Dome” system in which a virtual bubble of protection is over key elements in the country.
Russia’s production Geran-4 and Geran-5 jet-powered drones has increased, with Moscow now capable of manufacturing 4,000 units a month, intelligence reports claim. The country can deploy hundreds of the aircraft simultaneously, presenting threats to vital infrastructure, defence companies and military installations across Europe.
According to Helsing, its new system could address this challenge, with the artificial intelligence capable of detecting and coordinating interceptions against hundreds or even thousands of incoming drones and cruise missiles at the same time. “Contra ends the air defence dilemma: slow fair-weather drones, or million-euro missiles fired at cheap, mass-produced targets,” said Niklas Köhler, Helsing’s co-founder and president.
Significant portions of the two new missiles’ development have been carried out in the UK, the Daily Mail reports.
Both of the new missiles are priced at under £100,000, in contrast to more sophisticated systems such as US-made Patriot missiles, which exceed £3 million each.
They can be deployed from containers mounted on the rear of a lorry, a vessel or in open terrain. Helsing also stated it would have the capacity to manufacture thousands of missiles monthly, at facilities throughout Europe.
The missiles are currently undergoing final trials and will become operational later next year.
