MBDA Secures First Export Deal for SKY WARDEN Counter-UAV System in the Middle East

Historic Contract Signing and Strategic Implications

On November 21, 2025, MBDA announced a significant milestone with the signing of its inaugural export agreement with a Middle Eastern nation for the SKY WARDEN counter-unmanned aerial vehicle (C-UAV) system. This contract underscores MBDA’s ongoing commitment to bolstering the defense capabilities and sovereignty of its international partners against an increasingly complex landscape of aerial threats.

Executive Group Sales and Business Development representative, Lorenzo Mariani, emphasized the strategic importance of this agreement: “This contract signifies a pivotal move in our mission to enhance the security frameworks of our allies worldwide. The SKY WARDEN represents a cutting-edge response to asymmetric aerial challenges, offering advanced technology and adaptive capabilities to ensure effective counteraction against UAV threats, both present and future.”

Overview of SKY WARDEN’s Capabilities

The SKY WARDEN system has been recognized within the defense community, having garnered the Frontex C-UAS Prize 2025 for being the “best system to protect the EU’s borders.” Its comprehensive, multi-layered approach is adept at safeguarding areas from micro to tactical drones, extending operational effectiveness up to eight kilometers.

Key features include:

• Multi-Sensor and Multi-Effector Command and Control: Leveraging artificial intelligence for precise detection, identification, and classification of airborne threats.
• Variety of Complementary Effectors: Includes CILAS HELMA-P laser systems, omni-directional and directional jammers, MBDA HTK (Hit-to-Kill) interceptors, and the highly effective MISTRAL 3 missile, which boasts a success rate exceeding 96%.
• Scalability and Adaptability: The system is constructed with a modular architecture, allowing for seamless integration of new effectors in response to evolving threats.

Adaptability and Integration with Defense Systems

SKY WARDEN excels in flexibility, capable of being either deployed in a fixed position to safeguard critical infrastructure or mounted on vehicles for rapid mobility. This adaptability ensures that the system can efficiently counter expected and unexpected aerial threats in various operational contexts.

Furthermore, SKY WARDEN can be integrated with other medium-range air defense mechanisms, such as the VL MICA and CAMM-ER systems, thereby enhancing the layered defense strategies employed by military forces. This capacity to connect different defense systems establishes a holistic approach to aerial threat management.

Continuous Development and Future-Proofing

The evolution of the SKY WARDEN system remains dynamic, particularly illustrated by MBDA’s recent acquisition of the HELMA-P laser weapon from CILAS. This addition broadens the spectrum of effectors available within the overall solution, ensuring it remains at the forefront of technological advancements in counter-drone warfare.

In summary, the SKY WARDEN not only represents an innovative leap in counter-UAV technology but also reinforces the strategic partnerships that facilitate enhanced security cooperation. As military organizations worldwide grapple with asymmetric threats from various state and non-state actors, systems like SKY WARDEN offer a promising line of defense that is both adaptable and robust.

Conclusion

The agreement to export the SKY WARDEN to a Middle Eastern ally reflects broader trends in defense procurement, wherein nations seek advanced technology solutions that can be rapidly integrated into existing frameworks. As counter-drone operations become increasingly critical in modern warfare, platforms such as SKY WARDEN will play an essential role in shaping future defense landscapes.