MBDA showed the OWL (H) Crossbow, a cheap kamikaze drone with a range of 800 km

Not a rocket or an airplane, but a one—time attack drone

At the DSEI 2025 exhibition in London, the European MBDA concern presented a new system called OWL (H) — One Way Effector (Heavy), which can be translated as a "one-time remedy". This is not just a drone, but a kamikaze drone: it flies to the target and destroys it with an explosion of its warhead. The ground version weighs 750 kg, of which up to 300 kg is the payload.

Such drones are an ideal compromise between expensive rockets and massive quadrocopters.

300 kg payload and wings like a glider

The OWL(H) is not a small drone with a propeller. It has a wingspan of 3 meters and a length of 5.3 meters. It moves at subsonic speed using aerodynamics, like a light aircraft or a glider. Thanks to this, a range of more than 800 km is achieved — many times more than that of most tactical drones.

The payload is modular. It can be either cumulative for armored targets or high-explosive for buildings. There are also options with non—kinetic effects, such as electromagnetic pulses.

Long-range combat without overpayment

The main advantage of OWL(H) is the price. According to MBDA, it is designed to strike particularly important static targets (for example, command posts, warehouses, radars) in a complex electronic environment, but it is significantly cheaper than a cruise missile.

This allows you to use it massively, without sparing technique. The army gets the opportunity to "shoot" drones where it would not have used a rocket before.

Why do armies need such drones?

In modern conflicts, targeted but inexpensive strikes are increasingly needed. OWL(H) is just such a tool. It can be launched from mobile installations, it is elusive for air defense, and its range allows you to work from a safe distance.

This is not a replacement for missiles, but an addition — a weapon for those cases when you need power, but you don't want to pay the price of a Tomahawk.

Sources

1. MBDA — Official launch of Crossbow™ One Way Effector Heavy at DSEI 2025
2. EDR Magazine — OWE profile: 500 km+ range, multi-role payload, mass-strike role
3. Hi-Tech Mail.ru — 500 km kamikaze drone unveiled at Paris Air Show 2025
4. Amalantra.ru — European “jet Shahed”: MBDA’s long-range strike UAV
5. KP.ru — MBDA plans for extended-range, heavy-payload loitering munition
6. Overclockers.ru — MBDA One Way Effector drones designed to suppress air-defence

The US Army launches a drone with a Claymore mine — now drones are blowing up enemies from above

The US Army is testing a drone that does not just spy or drop grenades, but carries a whole Claymore mine. Yes, yes, the one with a directional effect, which releases a cloud of balls when it explodes, destroying everything in its path. Only now she's flying through the air instead of lying in the bushes.

Why is this necessary? Everything is simple. Modern battlefields are teeming with small kamikaze drones and infantry hiding in shelters. Conventional defense methods don't always work, especially against threats like quadrocopters that fall from the sky like firebirds. But a drone with a Claymore can become a trap on its own.

Imagine: a drone hovers over an intersection, drops a mine on the ground, and flies away. A minute later, an enemy group enters this place — and bang! — the explosion is directed forward, like from a machine gun. Or another scenario: a drone with a mine flies up to a cluster of enemy drones and explodes itself — turning into an aerial "shrapnel" that knocks down several targets at once.

This approach is a hybrid of exploration, mining, and attack. The drone becomes a mobile mine with remote control. He can work at night, in the jungle, in the city, wherever previously he would have had to risk soldiers.

So far, these are tests, but the direction is clear: the future of war is when even mines fly. And if the Claymore used to be parked by the road, now it can fly right to your roof.

The South Korean Army demonstrates the launch of a kamikaze FPV drone from a Surion helicopter to intercept aerial targets in flight

The South Korean army recently conducted a live demonstration of the launch of a kamikaze aerial drone with a first-person view (FPV) from aboard a multi-purpose KUH-1 Surion helicopter. During the exercises, a drone equipped with a live explosive charge was launched from a helicopter into the air, after which it was remotely controlled by an operator to intercept and destroy an aerial target — a special RC-MAT target drone simulating enemy unmanned systems.

The purpose of the training was to test the very procedure for launching a drone in flight from a helicopter, as well as to assess the tactical value of using such drones to destroy aerial targets right in the air. According to the Second Operational Command of the Army of the Republic of Korea, the main focus was on confirming the operational feasibility of aerial deployment of kamikaze drones and practical testing of remote control in real conditions.

This use of drones demonstrates the growing role of unmanned strike systems, which can be quickly deployed from aircraft and used as an effective means of protecting and responding to threats from the air. Such exercises help to develop new tactics and technologies that can increase the combat effectiveness of the South Korean army in modern air conflicts.

Britain is testing kamikaze drones: German startup Alpine Eagle creates "suicides" to destroy UAVs

 

The British army is looking for a way to effectively deal with kamikaze drones, and is now starting to use the same tactics itself. The British Ministry of Defense has launched tests with a new type of drones that not only detect enemy UAVs, but attack them directly with full dedication.

The German startup Alpine Eagle, founded in 2023, became a partner in the project. Despite its young age, the company has already developed a drone capable of intercepting enemy drones in the air — literally sacrificing itself by crashing into a target and destroying it on impact. It's like an "aerial samurai": it takes off, finds an enemy, and both fall.

Such drones are particularly effective against small and cheap UAVs, which are increasingly being used in attacks both in Ukraine and the Middle East. Traditional air defense systems (missiles, cannons) are ineffective against them — they are too expensive. But a kamikaze drone can be a cheap, fast and accurate solution.

Testing is still underway, but it is already clear that the future of drone defense is not only in electronic interference or lasers, but also in aerial duels where machines fight each other. And Britain clearly does not want to be left behind.

A new Ukrainian kamikaze drone with mines instead of wheels impresses with an innovative solution

The Armed Forces of Ukraine have presented fresh photos of a new land-based kamikaze drone, which stands out for its unusual design and creative use of Soviet TM-62 anti-tank mines. This drone combines several functions in one at once — it uses mines both as propellers and as a warhead, which makes it unique against the background of existing developments.

The main feature of the device is that instead of standard wheels, TM—62 anti-tank mines are installed on the drone, which simultaneously serve as both a propulsion component and a warhead. This unconventional idea allows you to achieve a double effect: the drone not only moves around the battlefield, but can also explode at the right moment, causing damage to the enemy.

From the front, the drone is equipped with a pair of motor wheels borrowed from an electric bike. These motor wheels provide the main drive and transmit the movement to the mine "hoops". Steering seems to be missing: the rear wheel is fixed in a fixed position with two springs that allow it to be held straight and ensure stable movement in a straight line.

Tactical advantages

- Simplicity and cost-effectiveness: The use of outdated mines and spare parts from electric bicycles simplifies production and reduces production costs.

 Surprise and effectiveness: Such a drone can creep up to enemy vehicles or manpower unnoticed and explode, causing significant damage.

- Mobility: Despite the lack of steering, the drone is able to move efficiently in a straight trajectory, which is suitable for some tactical scenarios.

Possible limitations

- The lack of steering limits maneuverability and requires precise pre-positioning before launch.

- Using a mine as the main propulsion can affect the stability of movement and limit speed.

- The features of the application make it vulnerable to active countermeasures, such as radio suppression or small arms fire.

The Ukrainian land-based kamikaze drone with TM-62 mines is another example of engineering creativity and adaptation of available resources to effectively counter the enemy. Its non-standard design and technical solutions make it interesting to study and, possibly, further improve.

Turkey is preparing a surprise: TALAY kamikaze drone in the style of an ekranoplane

 

TALAY

Turkey is preparing to present a rather unusual device, the TALAY kamikaze drone, at the IDEF 2025 international exhibition. This is not just another drone, but a real innovative project from Solid AERO. The main feature of TALAY is its design based on the principle of an ekranoplane.

Ekranoplanes are aircraft that use the "air cushion" effect that occurs when flying at a very low altitude above a flat surface, for example, over the sea. Because of this, they are more economical than conventional aircraft and can carry more payload.

In the case of the TALAY drone, this means that it can fly further, carry a more powerful warhead, and at the same time remain compact. Such a device will be especially effective against ships and objects in ports — here it has practically no equal.

So it's definitely worth keeping an eye on this project at IDEF 2025 — perhaps this is a new stage in the evolution of attack drones.

Drone "Dan-M": from aerial target to kamikaze drone

 The Dan-M drone is a jet-powered aerial target of the same name, designed to simulate cruise missiles and aircraft during exercises, which has been converted into a kamikaze drone.

Its characteristics in the target format:

Flight altitude: from 50 to 9000 meters;

Speed: from 300 to 750 km/h;

Flight duration: up to 70 minutes;

Take-off weight: 350 kg.

Ukraine carried out similar work on the conversion of Soviet jet unmanned targets into kamikaze drones, repeatedly launching upgraded Tu-141 Strizh on the territory of Russia. Then the launches stopped due to the depletion of drone data stocks. 

Either there are many such targets in service with the Russian Armed Forces, which it makes sense to convert into jet drones, or the Dan-M is simply used to distract Ukrainian air defense systems during strikes.

The Dan-M attack drone on the Mi-8 helicopter suspension

Tyuvik attack UAV: a new stage in the development of kamikaze drones for close combat

Tuvik

The Tuvik attack unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), which is a smaller version of the famous Geranium drone, has officially been put into mass production. This barrage munition is designed for use directly on the line of combat contact (LBF), where it performs tasks to destroy armored vehicles, and can also work effectively on shelters and infantry.

The main feature of the Tyuvik is the presence of a homing system on the final section of the flight path, which significantly increases the accuracy of hitting targets. In addition, the drone is equipped with artificial intelligence (AI), which helps it overcome modern electronic warfare (EW) systems, providing immunity to interference and the ability to complete missions in difficult conditions.

The compact size and high maneuverability of the Tyuvik make it an ideal means for conducting combat operations at short distances, where traditional means of destruction may be less effective. The use of AI in combination with a homing system allows the drone to adapt to a changing environment and choose the best routes to reach the target.

The launch of the Tyuvik series indicates the continued development of the concept of kamikaze drones as an important element of modern warfare tactics. Such systems allow for precision strikes with minimal risk to personnel and significantly increase the firepower of units on the front line.

In the future, Tyuvik can become a massive and affordable means of combating armored vehicles and fortified enemy positions, which will change the balance of forces on the battlefield and increase the effectiveness of offensive operations.

New kamikaze drone Geran-3: characteristics, advantages and differences from Geran-2

 

UAV "Geran-3"

A new kamikaze drone "Geran-3" has appeared in Russia, which impresses with its technical characteristics. But what makes it so special? What are its advantages, disadvantages, and what are the main differences between it and Geranium-2?

Some consider the Geranium-3 to be just a renamed version of the Shahed-238, but this is not the case, it is a significantly improved modification adapted to Russian combat missions.

The Geran-3 is a kamikaze jet drone, which is a modified version of the Iranian Shahed-238. The UAV is much faster, more powerful and more technologically advanced than the previous version of the Geran-2 (Shahed-236). Launched into mass production.

Advantages:

- High speed – about 550-600 km/h and it is more difficult to shoot down with conventional machine guns or artillery.

- Capable of accelerating to 700 km/h in dive mode

. - Modern guidance systems – options with infrared sensors or passive radar guidance are possible, which makes interception even more difficult.

- The length of the drone is 3.5 meters, and the wingspan is 3 meters.

- It can climb up to 9.1 km and stay in the air for up to 2 hours.

Disadvantages:

- Higher cost than the Geran-2: the jet engine makes it more expensive and more difficult to manufacture.

- Visibility to thermal radars: the hot exhaust of the jet engine makes the drone vulnerable to anti-aircraft missiles.

- Limited use: due to the higher cost, it may not be launched in such large quantities as Geranium-2.

The main differences between our latest Russian "Geranium-3" and the previous version:

- The Geran-3 is equipped with a compact turbojet engine that has a thrust of 250-300 kg, and the Geran-2 is equipped with a piston engine that develops 200 km/h. This makes the new drone faster.

- Upgraded flying wing design.

- The combat weight is 300 kg, which is 6 times more than the "two", the combat weight of which did not exceed 50 kg.

- The weight of the Geranium-3 has increased to 380 kg compared to 250 kg for the Geranium-2.

This drone has a power comparable to a cruise missile, which allows it to attack fortified facilities such as bunkers, command centers and industrial buildings. In other words, its capabilities are significantly expanded compared to the previous model.