MBDA wants to mass-produce low-cost kamikaze drone with 500 km range

The European defense company MBDA (Matra BAe Dynamics Aérospatiale) presented a low-cost kamikaze drone with a maximum range of 310 miles (equivalent to almost 500 km) at the Paris Air Show 2025. The drone, known as the One Way Effector, is therefore suitable for long-distance missions and is to be mass-produced.

Initially, not much is known about the One Way Effector drone, which is supposed to swoop down on enemy targets autonomously. It has a jet engine and will be equipped with a 40 kg warhead. It will be able to be launched from a ramp or from a hangar. This should enable the drone to engage enemy targets at a distance of up to almost 500 km.

The aim is to overwhelm the enemy's air defenses with masses of this kamikaze drone. The aim is to exhaust the enemy's resources so that it is easier to destroy their air defenses. In addition, the drones are to be used to better locate the enemy's air defences. Other, longer-range systems could then use this information to target the air defenses, MBDA writes in a press release.

Short development time, mass production

The development of the kamikaze drone is still in its infancy. It was only launched in December 2024. In addition to MBDA, a drone manufacturer and a “French industrial player from the automotive sector” are involved, as MBDA somewhat cryptically puts it. This is the car manufacturer Renault.

Renault will also help to mass-produce the One Way Effector. A monthly output of 1000 drones is planned. The high production rate is possible because the design is kept simple and can be produced quickly. This also keeps the price low. However, MBDA does not provide exact details of the costs per drone.

An initial test demonstration of the One Way Effector is already planned for fall 2025. However, it may be some time before it goes into production. According to current plans, the first examples of the kamikaze drone are to be produced by 2027.

(olb)