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The German startup Skylance GmbH has successfully completed the first flight tests of the DroneHammer interceptor missile — a miniature jet-powered round designed for the rapid neutralization of small drones.
According to the portal Armees.com, the system, developed in cooperation with partner companies e-Wolf GmbH and WARGdrones GmbH, boasts a flight range of 600 meters, a speed of 500 km/h, and impressive effectiveness against minimalist targets, reports ArmyInform.
DroneHammer is a missile with an optical seeker and a warhead designed to counter drones weighing up to 25 kg at short range. This was reported by Skylance CEO Philipp Bone to the portal Hartpunkt.
First presented at the AFCEA 2025 exhibition in May of this year, the system is described by its developers as a “fast and scalable solution for next-generation counter-drone interception”.
It is based on a solid-fuel rocket motor and uses an optical seeker combined with a CO₂ fragmentation warhead. Thus, the projectile is designed to detonate near the target, dispersing fragments over a radius of approximately 10 meters, comparable to a shotgun blast that releases numerous damaging elements.
The system enables effective interception of drones with a time-to-hit of less than 3 seconds from launch. The missile can be launched from three types of platforms: shoulder-fired, ground-based, or deck-mounted, depending on tactical requirements.
The external casing of DroneHammer, as well as all its components, were designed to limit costs without compromising lethality. The missile weighs only 700 grams in its current Mk2 version. Its length is 70 centimeters, and its diameter is 70 millimeters. A more compact version, oriented toward a 60 cm × 60 mm format, is already under development.
According to the designers, the unit production cost in serial manufacturing will not exceed a few thousand euros. In their view, this makes it a particularly competitive option compared to the development of dedicated laser systems, the cost of conventional missiles for air defense systems, or high-frequency electronic jammers, which are often ineffective against targets that are already autonomous or highly maneuverable.
The modular architecture of DroneHammer also allows rapid adaptation to different vectors, facilitating integration onto mobile bases for interceptor drones or light armored vehicles. This exceptional flexibility has been highlighted by German developers as a priority direction within close-range defense doctrine.
Skylance announced that the development of DroneHammer is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2026, with rapid industrialization anticipated. Several demonstration models are already operational. Tests conducted in August confirmed the flight characteristics.
In an official statement published on LinkedIn, the company said:
“We are proud to announce one of the first successful real-world tests of our DroneHammer drone interceptor missile. This important milestone brings us closer to creating a fast, reliable, and scalable solution for next-generation drone defense”.
In addition to Germany, several European partners have already expressed interest in this ultra-short-range counter-drone weapon, which combines technical simplicity, acceptable cost, and effective use in field conditions and urban environments.
This announcement underscores a broader trend in European and international programs: the expansion of counter-drone options to address rapidly evolving threats capable of bypassing conventional defenses or inflicting damage at low attack costs. DroneHammer is part of an expanding set of systems designed to combine rapid response, affordability, and operational effectiveness.
According to the authors of the defense website Army Recognition, the successful testing of DroneHammer by Skylance marks an important step in the development of systems intended to neutralize small drones. Alongside projects such as Gobi, Sting, and Mark 1, it reflects the determination of several European manufacturers to provide affordable and adaptable defensive solutions in modern conflicts, where the use of lightweight drones has become a defining factor.
Test launches of the DroneHammer mini-missile. Video: Skylance
