BAE Systems is seeking to respond to the growing speed and scale of drone warfare by pursuing a partnership focused on affordable, mass-producible interceptor systems rather than highly customized air defense platforms.
The UK-based defense firm has signed a memorandum of understanding with Frankenburg Technologies, a startup developing missile solutions tailored for counter-drone operations.
Under the agreement, the two companies will examine how BAE Systems’ experience in munitions design and manufacturing can support and accelerate the development of warheads for Frankenburg’s planned missile family, prioritizing cost efficiency and rapid production.
Initially, the collaboration will center on counter-drone warhead development, though BAE noted that the scope could broaden to additional technologies as operational demands evolve. Frankenburg Technologies Managing Director Dan Hallett said the partnership could help transition systems from prototype stages to fielded capability at a faster pace by combining innovative design with established industrial capacity.
Expanding Counter-Drone Efforts
Governments and defense companies across Europe and Asia are intensifying efforts to counter increasingly advanced unmanned threats.
In February 2026, Estonia launched a joint initiative with Hanwha Aerospace to co-develop counter-drone solutions integrating sensors and effectors to protect critical infrastructure and military sites, reflecting a broader move toward layered air defense networks.
In Germany, KNDS disclosed progress on its Tytan counter-drone system, which integrates radar, electro-optical tracking, and effectors into a mobile platform for deployed forces. Around the same period, Hensoldt presented its own Tytan-branded counter-drone suite combining advanced sensors with command-and-control systems for battlefield and infrastructure protection.
In the Baltic region, multiple companies announced collaborative development of modular counter-drone systems in September 2025, focusing on rapidly deployable architectures that merge radar, optical tracking, and kinetic or non-kinetic effectors.
Meanwhile, Singapore strengthened its counter-UAS posture in early 2026 through cooperation with Epirus, deploying microwave-based technologies designed to neutralize unmanned aerial systems.
