As part of the trials, the KDV provided proof of integration and effectiveness by showing that the threat posed by small drones can be eliminated through automatic detection, tracking and engagement. Diehl Defence also demonstrated the integration of a long range effector for fixed wing drones with a successful intercept.
The company said these results underline the improved engagement performance achieved through AI automation, radar and electro optical primary detection and a secondary effector. According to Diehl Defence, the KDV is expanding its ability to protect both highly mobile forces and stationary facilities from small drones at close range and from high flying fixed wing drones.
At the same time, Diehl Defence tested the latest system demonstrators of the Sky Sphere drone defence system and the eMissile CICADA, using a container version for the trials. The campaign focused on optimising the complete sensor to shooter chain and the interception process in dynamic scenarios with real hardware.
Sky Sphere is described by the company as a modular drone defence system for the detection, classification and engagement of drone threats, forming the innermost layer of its multi layered air defence approach. It can integrate the CICADA effector, an electrically powered system developed for defence against NATO Class I and smaller NATO Class II drones, which can employ either a Diehl Defence fragmentation warhead or a non lethal net to neutralise targets.
