Airbus has officially unveiled its latest innovation in counter-UAS technology: the LOAD (Low-Cost Air Defense) UAV interceptor. The announcement was made at the prestigious DWT Unbemannte Systeme X, a key event focused on unmanned systems and technologies.
Designed as a cost-effective solution to combat the growing threat of hostile drones, the Airbus LOAD UAV interceptor is engineered to launch multiple small, guided air-to-air munitions under its wings, effectively neutralizing enemy UAVs in contested environments. This makes LOAD a significant addition to Europe’s evolving short-to-medium range air defense capabilities.
Built upon the proven Do-DT25 platform—a jet-powered aerial target drone currently in production by Airbus—the LOAD system retains the original’s catapult-launch configuration. Optimized to operate within the radio horizon, it offers enhanced interception performance in short- to medium-range missions.
Airbus emphasized the system’s affordability and scalability, positioning LOAD as a practical counter-drone defense asset for modern battlefields and critical infrastructure protection. The company plans to conduct the first test flight of the armed prototype by the end of 2025, with serial production anticipated to begin in 2027.
This announcement comes amid heightened demand across Europe and other regions for agile, cost-efficient defense solutions capable of addressing the increasing use of drones in both tactical and strategic warfare scenarios.
