As the sole European company offering the full spectrum of sovereign complex weapons solutions to cover the armed forces’ current and future needs, MBDA stands more than ever alongside the armed forces, helping them overmatch the most complex threats.
To pursue its mission, MBDA has created – and is still developing – a wide portfolio of solutions, especially for Air Defence. Present on all layers of the Air Defence, MBDA provides innovative solutions for all type of threats, from anti-drone with SKY WARDEN system, to complew weapon systems maneuvering ballistic missiles and hypersonic gliders, with VL MICA, ASTER, AQUILA.
Some solutions are already available and have proven their value, such as MISTRAL, VL MICA or the ASTER families.
During this Paris Air Show 2025, focus will be done on FULGUR. This new MANPADS VSHORAD missile responds to an operational requirement by the Italian Army for a new man portable, shoulder–launchable, very short range air defence missile, MANPADS class (low weight) but mountable as well on a ground mobile launcher.
It is designed to face key targets such as fighters, helicopters, small UAV and cruise missiles too, with an intercept range compliant to NATO standard for VSHORAD systems (5 km).
The new MANPADS VSHORAD missile stands within MBDA’s offer for the air defence domain and contributes to complementing the company portfolio as it is a shoulder–launchable, very short-range air defence, fully compliant to NATO standard for VSHORAD systems, supersonic and light weight solution. FULGUR can also be integrated into our SKY WARDEN solution, perfectly complementing the different effectors layers of the system. Sky Warden is a new flagship system to counter unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS).
And last but not least, the very last layer of Air Defence has not been forgotten: space.
Space capabilities have become essential in supporting military operations. They enable missile systems to be even more responsive, collaborative, and efficient.
Tomorrow, defense solutions against certain threats, such as hypervelocity missiles and gliders, will also require greater space capabilities for the detection and tracking of maneuvers over very long distances. Thus, as their strategic importance grows, space infrastructures are becoming potential targets. Space must be protected against the development of threats in orbit.
That’s why MBDA develops solutions to ensure the defense of systems beyond the atmosphere, to guarantee their freedom of action, both on Earth and in space. One of these solutions is called SPLINTER. This dual initiative led by U-SPACE & MBDA aims to experiment reactive military intervention in Low Earth Orbit. Its goal is to demonstrate target engagement & proximity maneuvering techniques in orbit, while enabling experimentation & maturation of technological blocks required to build in-orbit defensive action capability.
>> To read more details about FULGUR, please read our dedicated press release
