Wolf 25 AD Armored Vehicle Becomes a Mobile Tactical Antidrone Bubble on the Battlefield.

On August 4, 2025, the Slovak manufacturer DefTech published on LinkedIn a new image of its Wolf 25 AD counter-drone vehicle, currently deployed in Ukraine. Positioned as a response to the growing threat of lightweight drones on contemporary battlefields, the system is defined by its mobility, firepower, and onboard sensors. Designed to provide close-range protection against commercial drones, loitering munitions, and other low-altitude aerial threats, the Wolf 25 AD belongs to a new generation of counter-UAS (C-UAS) capabilities intended to accompany maneuver units directly.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

The Wolf 25 AD creates a mobile and resilient tactical bubble with 360° detection, on-the-move engagement capability, and resistance to jamming. (Picture source: DefTech Slovakia)

Faced with the proliferation of inexpensive, discreet, and expendable drones, traditional air defense systems are showing their limitations. Optimized for intercepting high-speed, high-value targets, they struggle to neutralize swarms of low-flying micro-drones. In this context, so-called "Gap-Filler" systems, intended to cover short-range defense gaps, are becoming essential components of modern force structures. The Wolf 25 AD reflects this trend: as a mobile, modular, and rapidly deployable platform, it is not an optional add-on but rather a core element of tactical air defense.

The vehicle is fitted with the Valhalla Turrets remote-controlled weapon station, produced in Slovenia, and armed with a 25×137 mm Oerlikon KBA automatic cannon. This weapon achieves a firing rate of up to 650 rounds per minute and can fire various types of ammunition depending on the target: proximity-fuzed high-explosive (PX-HE) rounds for aerial threats, high-explosive incendiary tracer (HEI-T), semi-armour-piercing high-explosive (SAPHE), and both FAPDS-T and APFSDS for armored or fast-moving targets. The 25 mm caliber was selected for its balance between effectiveness, ammunition capacity, and logistical availability, while maintaining performance close to the larger 30×173 mm round.

Detection capabilities rely on an integrated radar-optical suite. The turret includes the Lotus Lite electro-optical system, combining thermal imaging and a daylight camera, while primary detection is handled by four AESA AMMR radar panels positioned to provide 360-degree coverage. These radars can track up to 150 aerial targets simultaneously. Detection ranges vary by threat type: up to 20 km for fighter aircraft, 12 km for helicopters, 10 km for missiles, 8 to 10 km for Lancet-type drones, and 5 km for FPV or commercial drones. These radars, also used on Rheinmetall’s Skynex and Skyranger platforms, are additionally capable of tracking artillery trajectories in real time. The system features advanced electronic counter-countermeasures (ECCM), allowing it to function in electronically contested environments. It can acquire and track moving targets, including while on the move, making it suitable for the protection of mechanized columns or fixed assets.

The war in Ukraine has exposed doctrinal shifts underway. FPV kamikaze drones, jamming-capable quadcopters, and small reconnaissance UAVs, often based on commercial platforms, are reshaping combined arms operations. In this environment, the Wolf 25 AD has reportedly been deployed operationally, with DefTech stating it has received positive operational feedback. Its weapon station, off-road mobility, and crew protection features allow it to support mechanized brigades or secure airfields against saturation drone attacks.

While Ukraine remains the only confirmed operator, DefTech has indicated that discussions are ongoing with other international partners. The release of new visual material is part of a broader communication effort, as multiple European and non-European armed forces reassess their counter-drone posture. By emphasizing the need for mobile and modular C-UAS systems at the tactical level, DefTech aims to present the Wolf 25 AD as both a transitional measure and a lasting component of modernized air defense architectures.

As frontlines continue to evolve under the influence of emerging drone threats, tactical counter-drone defense is becoming a strategic necessity. The Wolf 25 AD represents a practical response to this shift. In the long term, its integration into broader C4ISR architecture could lead to the emergence of new interoperable and distributed anti-drone bubbles suited to the realities of contemporary warfare.