At this year’s Enforce Tac exhibition in Nuremberg, Germany, a wide range of products for the international security sector was showcased. Among them, the German company Diehl Defence, a leading supplier of air defense systems, introduced its Sky Sphere defense system. The presentation highlighted the company’s focus on countering the growing threat posed by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
At the core of the system is the CICADA anti-air drone, which is being showcased in Europe for the first time. This interceptor is designed to neutralize Class 1 and 2 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). It features a distinct pyramidal shape with four wings extending along its 700 mm-long, 300 mm-diameter body. This configuration enables CICADA to engage small, low-speed drones weighing up to 600 kg.
The drone is available in two configurations, allowing for deployment in both military and civilian environments. The non-lethal version uses a capture net to disable hostile drones, while the lethal variant is equipped with a fragmentation warhead for direct engagement.
The Sky Sphere system offers modular capabilities, allowing integration with Diehl’s proprietary technologies or third-party components, making it a flexible solution. At the front of the CICADA interceptor drone, an integrated radar sensor assists in final approach targeting. Behind it, a high-speed rotor propels the drone to speeds of up to 200 km/h. The onboard battery provides up to five minutes of flight time, covering a range of up to 5 km – the maximum distance at which small drones can typically be detected by radar. However, the effective interception range may vary depending on the speed required to counter a specific UAV.
The system can be customized to meet specific client requirements, with additional features such as flight path planning, terrain-following capabilities, and obstacle avoidance. The latter is particularly important when deploying CICADA in urban environments.
The company is currently in discussions with potential clients regarding customized integration projects and expects the system to become commercially available by 2026.
It is worth noting that Diehl Defence’s portfolio includes battle-proven IRIS air defense systems, further strengthening its position in the evolving landscape of counter-drone and air defense technologies.
Source: Defence-blog
