Iran’s Shahed-136 drone inspires F-35, Rafale missile developer to take big step and unveil…
The ongoing wars between Russia-Ukraine and Iran-Israel have showcased that the way of fighting battles has changed in the tech era and also highlighted the use of new war weapons such as UAVs and drones. It is a fact that future wars will be fought with UAVs and suicide drones. Considering this, Europe’s largest missile manufacturer – MBDA – has unveiled its new one-way attack drones at the Paris Air Show. These drones grabbed the eyeballs of many because of their low cost and effectiveness. MBDA showcased a scaled model of these drones, and the actual drones are expected to be around 10 feet long. The company is aiming to mass-produce these drones, intended to be significantly cheaper than its cruise missiles. MBDA is planning to deliver more than 1,000 suicide drones.
Currently designated “One-Way Effector”, these drones are capable of turning the tables during the war.
Notably, Europe’s largest missile manufacturer has shifted to mass-producing these low-cost drones, which is a clear example of how the Russia-Ukraine war and the use of Made in Iran – Shahed-136 drones have drastically changed the battlefield.
Use Of Drones In Battlefield
Suicide drones have emerged as a game changer weapon in the Russia-Ukraine war. Both the country attacked each other with hundreds of drones. Considering the importance of drones in the battlefield, Ukraine is planning to produce 4.5 million drones this year. On the other hand, Russia aims to produce 3-4 million suicide drones in 2025, as per a report by New York Times.
MBDA’s Hugo Coqueret highlights the Ukrainian conflict’s emphasis on the importance of mass munitions, stating that their new weapon system is a direct response to this need.
“The mission is one of saturation. It has been designed to meet this need for the return of mass in the armed forces, to cause saturation of enemy forces,” Coqueret said.
Notably, MBDA traditionally manufactures precision missiles that costs millions of dollars, including the SCALP and the Taurus. Manufacturing drones is a new kind of challenge for the company.
One SCALP missile costs approx USD 1 million to USD 2 million.
MBDA plans to use inexpensive, disposable drones in large numbers to overwhelm enemy air defenses, thereby paving the way for a smaller, more expensive cruise missile strike.
Inspired but Different from Iran’s Shahed-136
Inspired by Iranian Shahed-136 drones, the ‘One Way Effector’ drones will differ in several aspects, such as the propulsion system.
Unlike the Shahed’s piston engine, the MBDA drone will be loaded with a small jet engine. This will significantly improve the drone’s speed.
However, a jet-powered version, the Shahed 238 exists but is not widely used during Russia-Ukraine war.
MBDA’s drone, although possessing a reduced range of approximately 500 km with an 80-pound payload, will achieve higher speeds, exceeding 400 km/h, due to its jet engine. This increased speed will make interception considerably more challenging.
“It’s relatively fast and carries a significant payload. All of that means that the enemy’s ground-based air defense is forced to destroy it with high-value-added systems. Everything is designed to generate saturation,” Coqueret said.
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