Airbus unveils autonomous drone to counter affordable air threats

European aerospace giant Airbus introduced a novel antidrone drone system named LOAD—Low-Cost Air Defence—on 26 March 2025 at an unmanned systems exhibition in Bonn, Germany. The drone is specifically designed to intercept inexpensive aerial threats efficiently, addressing the ongoing challenge of air defense operational costs.

LOAD builds on the Airbus’s Do-DT25 drone, a target drone initially developed two decades ago for military training exercises. This modified version will carry up to three guided missiles and is launched via catapult, boasting an operational range of roughly 100 kilometers (62 miles). Airbus plans to begin flight tests of a prototype carrying two missiles later this year, with full operational capability expected by 2027.

Unlike disposable solutions, LOAD is reusable—returning by parachute after completing missions, significantly reducing costs. Airbus emphasized the drone’s capability for autonomous detection and engagement, although human oversight remains mandatory for actual missile launches.

The drone will be ITAR-free, meaning it contains no US technology, in line with Europe's goal of defense independence. As reported by Defense News, Airbus envisions LOAD working in concert with its Eurodrone platform to cover airspace that ground radar systems currently do not reach.