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Athens · Wednesday, 14 October 2026

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Computer rendering of a quadcopter interceptor drone with a radar module mounted on its front, shown against a white background

Drones

MBDA and Fortem extend counter-drone partnership, offering DroneHunter and the new FireThorn interceptor

MBDA will offer Fortem's DroneHunter as a layer in its air defence networks, and the two companies present FireThorn, an autonomous interceptor with an MBDA warhead, at AUSA 2026.

GEOPOLITIKI GEOPOLITIKINewsroom
2 min read

Image: MBDA / Fortem Technologies

MBDA and Fortem Technologies have announced that they are extending their strategic partnership on counter-uncrewed aircraft systems (C-UAS), with MBDA now set to offer Fortem’s DroneHunter interceptor to its customers as an additional layer in existing air defence networks. The two companies also present FireThorn, a fully autonomous interceptor they co-developed, which will be on display at MBDA’s booth 453 at the AUSA 2026 Annual Meeting and Exposition in Washington DC, running from 12 to 14 October.

What the extended agreement covers

According to MBDA, the new agreement builds on a technical collaboration dating back to 2024, in which Fortem’s DroneHunter autonomous interceptor was integrated into the C-UAS architecture of MBDA’s ground-based air defence system SKY WARDEN. Under the expanded partnership, MBDA will sell DroneHunter as a further layer for customers that already operate air defence networks,.

The second element is FireThorn. MBDA describes it as a fully autonomous interceptor designed to defeat one-way attack drones and other hostile uncrewed aircraft, and names Shaheds/Gerans and Orlans among the targets. It pairs Fortem’s high-speed, radar-guided autonomous airframe with an MBDA NATO-approved warhead, which provides a kinetic kill.

Two interceptors for different threats

MBDA presents the two products as complementary. FireThorn is described as a hard-kill effector for high-threat engagement scenarios, while DroneHunter offers what the company calls low-collateral net capture for high-density environments.

Jon Gruen, CEO of Fortem Technologies, said in the announcement: “Working with MBDA puts Fortem’s systems inside one of Europe’s most established air defence ecosystems, and gives allied forces a faster route to protecting troops, bases, and critical infrastructure.”

Context

The announcement was published on the opening day of AUSA. Geopolitiki has reported on another C-UAS delivery in the same week, when the VAMPIRE: US Army receives first L3Harris counter-drone systems two months after the order. MBDA’s own announcement does not give prices, quantities, customers or a delivery schedule for DroneHunter or FireThorn, and it does not say when either product might enter service.

Source: MBDA press page, MBDA expands partnership with Fortem Technologies on counter-drone protection, 12 October 2026.

AUSA 2026 Counter-drone Drones Fortem Technologies MBDA

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