A Product Engineered to Meet Operational Needs

First unveiled at DSEI UK 2025, MURMUR is an advanced communications solution developed by MBDA to respond to the operational challenges encountered on current battlefields. As threats become increasingly dynamic, maintaining a secure and reliable data link becomes essential. Reducing the risks of interception, jamming, and signal degradation are central concerns for armed forces.

“In recent years, demand for low-cost drones and effectors has grown rapidly” explains Dan, the MURMUR Project Lead. “These effectors often rely on simple hardware, which makes them especially vulnerable to signal interception and jamming. While anti-jam solutions do exist, they tend to be either too expensive for low-cost effectors or not robust enough to withstand high-intensity jamming environments”.

To address these challenges, MBDA has leveraged its deep data links expertise in secure communications to develop a new resilient, low-cost anti-jam radio: MURMUR. “We take inexpensive commercial off-the-shelf radio hardware, and integrate our proprietary defence grade software into it,” Dan explains. “Our approach strengthens the survivability of drones and effectors by having a reliable link, while maintaining affordability”.

A Unique Sovereign Solution to Maximise Performance

At the core of MURMUR’s design is a mesh network that allows collaborative behaviour between effectors. This architecture enhances lethality, survivability and situational awareness. “Each effector carries a MURMUR radio, becoming a node in the mesh network. Because the network has no hierarchy, effectors can join or leave seamlessly at any time” explains lead architect, Alex. He adds; “This network is supported by a set of anti-jam techniques to maintain connectivity in complex electromagnetic environments”.

With this technology, MURMUR delivers “resilient communications without compromise” notes Dan. MURMUR represents a significant step forward in operational reliability, achieved through the fusion of accessible hardware and MBDA’s advanced software implementation. A proven prototype of MURMUR has already been successfully demonstrated, paving the way for continued development and future deployment.

Murmur’s Business Development Officer, Josh, adds “MURMUR showcases how MBDA’s expertise in complex weapon systems can be applied to meet the operational demands of low-cost effectors, where intelligent combat mass is essential.”.

A Cost-Efficient Capability Demonstrating MBDA’s Agility and Innovation

The development of MURMUR showcases MBDA’s ability to innovate with agility to mobilise internal expertise and deliver solutions aligned with the rapidly evolving needs of the armed forces. The project has origins through Smart Visions, MBDA’s intrapreneurship programme, which facilitated the rapid maturation of the programme, achieving a Minimum Viable Product within months. MURMUR is purpose-built to be scalable, meeting the operational demands of high-intensity conflicts.

A dedicated team of seven specialists based in Bristol, UK leads the effort, supported by broader collaboration across MBDA Group. This strategic collective expertise ensures Murmur can evolve rapidly to meet emerging operational requirements while maintaining an affordable cost profile.

MURMUR reflects MBDA’s commitment to delivering sovereign, operationally relevant capabilities and fostering innovation across the Group. MURMUR also demonstrates MBDA’s ability to merge technological excellence with agile development and strategic foresight, ensuring that armed forces are equipped with resilient communication systems, essential for current and future operational environments.