Babcock, a leading UK defense contractor, has entered into a partnership with Latvia-based Frankenburg Technologies to explore a new low-cost maritime counter-UAS solution.
The effort targets the increasing use of one-way attack drones, which have proven difficult for traditional air defense systems to counter, as seen in ongoing conflicts such as Ukraine.
Under the initiative, the companies are considering a containerized maritime system designed to deploy Frankenburg’s affordable missile interceptors. Babcock stated that the missiles are engineered for fast and scalable production, allowing operators to respond efficiently to the expanding one-way drone threat.
Such maritime counter-drone systems are designed to protect ships, ports, and offshore facilities by combining detection and tracking sensors with neutralization options that include electronic attack, spoofing, and kinetic responses such as guns or directed-energy weapons.
Although specific system details have not yet been released, development will take place in the UK, creating high-skill jobs and opening potential global export pathways for both partners.
Frankenburg has already validated its Mark 1 guided rocket, successfully intercepting a Shahed-sized target flying at speeds of up to 200 km/h. Built entirely from commercial off-the-shelf components in just 13 months, the interceptor has a range of at least 2 kilometers and can operate in fire-and-forget or Lock-On-After-Launch modes, ensuring target engagement even under challenging weather conditions.
