At the DSEI 2025 exhibition in London, MBDA unveiled a new adaptation of its Sky Warden counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) suite—this time mounted on a Mercedes-Benz Unimog chassis. The integration marks a significant evolution in mobile short-range air defense (SHORAD) concepts as European militaries seek agile solutions to counter the growing threat of drones and loitering munitions on the battlefield.
Sky Warden System Overview
Originally announced in 2023 as an open-architecture C-UAS solution, MBDA’s Sky Warden is designed to detect, track, identify, and neutralize hostile drones across multiple threat tiers. The system integrates modular sensors and effectors from both MBDA and third-party suppliers. These include passive RF detection systems, active radar (such as Hensoldt’s Spexer family), electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) cameras for visual confirmation, and multiple kinetic/non-kinetic effectors.
Sky Warden supports a range of effector options including:
- Soft-kill: GNSS spoofing/jamming and RF denial using electronic warfare techniques;
- Hard-kill: Integration with kinetic interceptors like MBDA’s Mistral ATAM or other SHORAD-class missiles;
- Directed energy weapons: Laser-based neutralization modules under development with partners.
The system is designed for flexibility across fixed-site protection (e.g., airports or command posts), semi-mobile deployments (e.g., truck-mounted), and fully mobile configurations such as the new Unimog-based variant showcased at DSEI.
The Mercedes-Benz Unimog Platform
The choice of the Mercedes-Benz Unimog U5000 series chassis reflects a deliberate emphasis on mobility and ruggedness. The Unimog is renowned for its off-road performance and has been widely adopted by NATO-aligned forces in logistics and engineering roles. By mounting the full Sky Warden suite—including sensors mounted on telescopic masts and onboard power generation—onto this platform, MBDA enables rapid deployment to forward areas without sacrificing sensor reach or effector readiness.
This configuration enables “shoot-and-scoot” tactics critical in high-threat environments where static air defense assets are vulnerable to preemptive strikes. The modularity also allows operators to tailor payloads based on mission profiles—whether convoy protection against FPV drones or area denial against Group I–III UAS threats.
DSEI Demonstration Highlights Modularity
At DSEI 2025, MBDA demonstrated how Sky Warden can integrate third-party subsystems via standard interfaces. For example:
- A Hensoldt Spexer radar provided wide-area surveillance;
- An EO/IR turret from Safran enabled visual tracking;
- The effector suite included jammers from ELTA Systems;
- A lightweight launcher was fitted with Mistral missiles for hard-kill interception.
This plug-and-play approach aligns with NATO’s push toward interoperable C-UAS architectures under STANAG frameworks. It also allows end users to upgrade individual components without overhauling entire systems—a critical consideration given the fast-paced evolution of drone threats.
Tactical Implications for European Forces
The proliferation of low-cost drones—from commercial quadcopters used for ISR to loitering munitions like Lancet or Shahed-class systems—has forced NATO militaries to rethink their layered air defense strategies. Traditional SHORAD assets such as MANPADS or gun-based systems often lack the detection fidelity or engagement speed required against small UAS swarms.
A mobile system like Sky Warden-on-Unimog offers several advantages:
- Tactical mobility: Can accompany mechanized units into contested zones;
- 360° coverage: With mast-mounted sensors providing elevated situational awareness;
- Spectrum agility: Capable of detecting both RF-controlled UAS and autonomous platforms using AI-based classification algorithms;
- CUE integration: Can be cued by external ISR feeds via Link-16 or national datalinks for cooperative engagement capabilities.
This makes it suitable not only for homeland protection but also expeditionary operations where infrastructure is limited but drone threats are persistent—as seen in Ukraine or Sahel deployments.
Program Outlook and Future Development
The current Unimog-based demonstrator remains at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) ~7–8 according to MBDA officials at DSEI. While no formal procurement contracts have been announced yet, discussions are reportedly ongoing with several European customers including Germany’s Bundeswehr and Italy’s Esercito Italiano under their respective C-UAS modernization programs.
MBDA has indicated that future iterations may include AI-enhanced sensor fusion engines capable of real-time threat prioritization across multi-domain inputs. Additionally, integration with laser effectors is expected once power generation modules mature sufficiently for vehicle-mounted applications (~20–50 kW class).
The company also emphasized that Sky Warden is “platform agnostic”—meaning similar packages could be deployed on Boxer MRAVs, JLTVs, or even naval platforms depending on customer requirements.
Conclusion
The unveiling of the Sky Warden-Unimog variant at DSEI underscores how European industry is adapting rapidly to asymmetric aerial threats through modularity and mobility. As drone warfare becomes increasingly democratized—with actors ranging from state militaries to non-state groups fielding capable UAVs—the demand for agile C-UAS solutions will only grow. MBDA’s approach positions it well within this evolving battlespace where speed of integration may matter more than raw firepower alone.
