British defense firm Babcock has agreed to explore containerising anti-drone missiles with Estonia’s Frankenburg Technologies to support a new maritime counter-drone air defense system, company statements show.
Babcock and Frankenburg signed a memorandum of understanding on January 7 to study development of a cost-effective, containerised launch platform for low-cost anti-drone missiles. The proposed maritime system is intended to provide a kinetic option against one-way attack drones, addressing what the partners describe as evolving threats at sea.
The concept focuses on a modular launcher that could be deployed on ships or at fixed sites to fire Frankenburg’s missiles. The design is meant to balance affordability with scalability and operational flexibility, according to joint company statements.
Under the agreement, engineering work will be led from the United Kingdom. Both companies say the collaboration could help establish a sovereign capability in this domain, support skilled employment in the UK, and create potential export opportunities.
Babcock Chief Executive Officer David Lockwood said modern defense must adapt to the rapid rise of drone threats, and the partnership aims to combine innovative start-up agility with established maritime defense experience. Frankenburg CEO Kusti Salm described the mission as bringing affordable and scalable air defense to modern battlefields.
Frankenburg’s missile development effort has drawn attention for its focus on low-cost, quickly manufactured interceptors. Industry reporting notes the company aims for systems that are significantly cheaper and faster to produce than traditional air defense missiles, with potential production expansions underway in Europe.
The joint effort reflects broader moves by European defense firms to address the rise of cheap, commercially derived attack drones, a challenge seen across multiple theaters of conflict in recent years.
