Helsing wants to intercept fast attack drones with two very different weapons: a small jet-powered aircraft and a rocket that heads straight for its target. The German manufacturer presented them on 26 October as part of Contra, a new system linking sensors and air-defence weapons.
The interesting difference is how they fly. Helsing says AD-1 Inferno can stay over an area and attempt another interception. AD-2 Ambush is intended to react quickly to targets that are too fast for the jet-powered interceptor. Together, they should fill the gap between small interceptor drones and expensive air-defence missiles.
An interceptor that can try again
A solid-fuel rocket motor produces plenty of thrust in a short time. A jet engine keeps burning fuel during flight, giving an aircraft more scope to stay airborne. Helsing uses that difference to create two kinds of interceptor.
For AD-1 Inferno, the company lists a speed above 700 kilometres per hour, a range of at least 20 kilometres and an operating altitude above 9,000 metres. It is designed to loiter, cooperate with other interceptors and attack a target again. That sets it apart from an interceptor that must make one fast pass count.
AD-2 goes for speed
AD-2 Ambush gets a solid-fuel rocket motor. In its 26 October announcement, Helsing lists Mach 2.5 and a range exceeding 20 kilometres. It is intended for fast attack drones and subsonic cruise missiles beyond AD-1’s reach. Both models launch from a container.
During flight, they receive guidance from ground-based radars. For the final interception, they use their own radar seeker: a small onboard radar that tracks the target. The final approach therefore need not rely solely on camera images.
Contra should make the right weapons work together
Contra sits behind the two interceptors. The software combines observations from different sensors and connects them to available weapons. It is also intended to integrate other manufacturers’ systems, including counter-drone lasers and guns. Helsing says operators retain control over decisions and priorities.
Both interceptors are still in development. The published speeds and capabilities are manufacturer specifications, not results from operational deployment. The aim is clear: air defence needs enough affordable interceptors for a large attack, without using the same expensive weapon for every drone.
