German DroneHammer missile offers new anti-drone defense against FPV threats.

On August 16, 2025, the German company Skylance GmbH announced via its LinkedIn account that it had successfully carried out the first live tests of its anti-drone interceptor missile “DroneHammer.” The company described this step as an important milestone in the development of a solution intended to strengthen close-range defense against the proliferation of light FPV drones and loitering munitions belonging to Class 1, meaning under 150 kg.
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Screenshot from the video released by Skylance GmbH showing the DroneHammer test (Picture source: Skylance GmbH )

In recent years, armed forces and industry have diversified their responses to this type of threat. Solutions range from conventional weapons such as shotguns and 20- or 30-mm cannons, to high-technology options including directed-energy weapons or electronic jammers. At the same time, more specialized systems have emerged. Among them is the interceptor drone “Gobi,” developed by the French company Harmattan AI, a 2 kg system equipped with artificial intelligence algorithms capable of detecting, tracking, and neutralizing a target in less than one minute, including drones flying at speeds between 150 and 200 km/h. Similarly, the Ukrainian company Wild Hornets has introduced the “Sting,” an interceptor drone reaching a speed of 315 km/h, underlining the growing focus on agile and low-cost weapons of this type.

In parallel, other manufacturers are pursuing missile-based approaches. The Estonian company Frankenburg Technologies is developing the “Mark 1,” a compact weapon about 0.5 meters long and carrying a 500-gram warhead, designed to intercept drones flying at altitudes up to 2,000 meters. It is presented as significantly faster to produce and less costly than traditional surface-to-air missiles, reflecting the effort to make drone defense more accessible. Germany has also moved into this field, with the companies e-Wolf GmbH and WARGdrones GmbH initiating the DroneHammer concept, which is now being developed by Skylance GmbH.

From a technical perspective, the DroneHammer is currently undergoing testing in an MK-2 version, weighing 700 grams and measuring around 70 cm in length with a diameter of 70 mm. Skylance engineers aim to reduce these dimensions to 60 cm in length and 60 mm in diameter. The warhead is based on an original concept: a rotating CO2 cartridge that projects fragments close to the target, producing an effect similar to a shotgun blast, with an effective engagement diameter of 10 meters. This design has already demonstrated effectiveness in static tests against Class 1 drones.

The missile is guided by a simple optical sensor in its nose that requires active laser illumination of the target. Powered by a solid-fuel rocket motor, it can reach speeds above 500 km/h and has an effective range of over 600 meters. The interception time is estimated at about three seconds, making the system suitable for very short-range engagements. Its modularity nevertheless offers several possible applications, including shoulder-launched use by infantry, integration on ground vehicles, or deployment on aerial combat drones.

According to Skylance, the DroneHammer combines an optical seeker with its CO2-based warhead in order to maintain production costs at a low level while ensuring effectiveness against small drones, particularly those under 25 kg. The company has emphasized that the series production price should remain within “a few thousand euros” per unit, thanks to the use of simple, low-cost, and in some cases unconventional components.

This announcement highlights a broader trend in European and international programs: multiplying anti-drone options to address a threat that is constantly evolving, capable of overwhelming conventional defenses or inflicting losses at low cost. The DroneHammer is part of an expanding set of systems designed to combine fast response, affordability, and operational effectiveness.

The successful test of the DroneHammer by Skylance marks an important step in the development of systems dedicated to neutralizing small drones. Alongside projects such as the Gobi, the Sting, and the Mark 1, it reflects the determination of several European manufacturers to provide accessible and adaptable means of defense in modern conflicts, where the use of light drones has become a defining factor.