Solutions for the “Drone Wall” are available
The threat from drones has long become reality. With ELYSION, advanced radar technology, and the software suite MDOcore, HENSOLDT demonstrates how Germany and Europe can achieve rapid and comprehensive operational readiness – while preparing simultaneously for the next level of hybrid threats.
A new reality in the air
Whether over airports, energy installations, or military facilities – unmanned systems have become a constant element of the security landscape. In Germany alone, more than 500 suspicious drone sightings were registered in the first quarter of 2025. Europe is debating a “Drone Wall” for the continent as a whole, describing the situation as the most dangerous since the end of the Second World War.
Experience from Ukraine and the Middle East teaches us: drones are cheap, widely available, and highly flexible. They can fly at low altitude, operate in swarms, or circumvent electronic countermeasures. In Israel, more than 1,300 drones have been directed against critical targets within a few months. In Ukraine, low-cost FPV drones are inflicting million-euro damage on systems. Germany itself faces near-daily incursions of security relevance.
“One thing is clear: the growing and increasingly complex threats posed by drones must be taken extremely seriously. What matters is to reinforce our efforts significantly and at greater speed, across all levels, in order to ensure lasting protection and deterrence. For this reason, all ongoing initiatives in this direction are expressly welcome – and we at HENSOLDT will play our part,” explained Daniela Hildenbrand, Counter-UAS specialist at HENSOLDT.
The debate surrounding a “Drone Wall” highlights that counter-drone defence is no longer merely a national responsibility but has become a European security priority.
The “Drone Wall” Initiative in Context
Initially launched as the “Baltic Drone Wall”, the initiative has since been developed and refined by the EU at the Copenhagen Summit – and has moved to the centre of Europe’s security agenda. Contrary to the image suggested by the term, the objective is not a continuous line of gun towers or interceptor drones along the continent’s external borders.
Rather, the aim is to safeguard populations, critical infrastructure, and both military and civilian facilities at the borders and deep within national territory, through a combination of static and highly mobile systems. At its core lies the intelligent networking of existing counter-UAS assets across member states, together with a significant increase in available capacities.
HENSOLDT’s approach of Software-defined Defence and overarching architectures is ideally suited to deliver precisely these capabilities – embedding the Drone Wall into a coherent overall concept for European air defence.
In this way, the EU Drone Wall initiative forms the logical counterpart to the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI). Whereas ESSI provides “large-scale” ground-based air defence against aircraft and missiles, the Drone Wall addresses “short-range” defence against drones.
Ready for action: Elysion C-UxS
HENSOLDT has developed ELYSION C-UxS, a modular Counter-UAS system already delivered to the Bundeswehr as well as to other military, governmental, and civil customers. The solution combines a robust, battle-proven command-and-control software with a scalable multi-sensor–effector mix comprising complementary radar and RF systems, electro-optical products, and a versatile spectrum of countermeasures.
A key feature is its automated decision-support capability. AI-driven algorithms assess threats, reduce false alarms, and deliver real-time recommendations for action. This reduces operator workload even under swarm attack or electronic deception scenarios. The system is fully scalable – from protecting individual power plants or airports up to large-scale deployment across army sites. Thanks to its modular architecture, ELYSION C-UxS can be upgraded and expanded at any time.
“Today’s threat environment is dynamic and unpredictable. What matters is to have systems immediately operational yet capable of continuous evolution,” Hildenbrand emphasised.
ELYSION is already at the heart of the Bundeswehr’s ASUL (Counter-Unmanned Aerial System) solution currently in operational use.
Greater vision, faster response: Early detection by advanced sensors
Early detection is the foundation of every successful counter-drone defence. Recently, HENSOLDT installed the first TRS-4D LR long-range radar at the Naval Technical School in Parow as a test, reference, and training facility, now nearing operational readiness. With TRS-4D LR and other sensor systems, HENSOLDT can contribute to a comprehensive situational picture over land and maritime domains, such as the Baltic Sea – enabling identification of whether, and from where, drones were launched, including from naval platforms.
The capability for early detection is considered critical for initiating timely countermeasures and for providing political decision-makers with reliable intelligence in assessing hybrid threat scenarios.
At the same time, specialised radar systems such as the HENSOLDT Spexer 2000 family form the backbone of mobile and short-range counter-drone solutions. They are integrated into the ASUL system as well as into Rheinmetall’s forthcoming Skyranger.
ASUL in operational deployment
The German Bundeswehr’s Counter-UAS system ASUL has already been deployed successfully in live operations – including for force protection abroad and during major high-level national and international events. The system integrates HENSOLDT’s Spexer 2000 3D radar and NightOwl M camera with Rohde & Schwarz direction finders and HP Wüst effectors. Its overarching control element, ELYSION Mission Core, fuses data almost in real time, assesses threats, and provides operators with intuitive response options.
This underlines a crucial point: HENSOLDT delivers not just individual products but – together with partners – deployable, integrated solutions safeguarding civil and military facilities, critical infrastructure, and above all, populations.
From isolated solutions to a European shield: With MDOcore, HENSOLDT interconnects existing defence systems into a unified line of defence.
MDOcore: From individual systems to a digital shield
Another major challenge lies in integrating disparate systems across multiple domains. With MDOcore, HENSOLDT is developing a software suite designed precisely for such networking.
“We must build systems that do not merely act side by side but operate jointly. That is exactly what MDOcore enables: the interlinking of existing defence assets into a digital shield – nationally and, in perspective, at European level,” explained Sven Heursch, Head of Software-defined Defence and Digitalisation at HENSOLDT.
This approach overcomes fragmentation: standalone solutions can be integrated retroactively. With standardised interfaces and container architectures, MDOcore can connect both HENSOLDT and third-party systems. Thus, it provides the digital backbone linking dedicated solutions such as ELYSION, enabling the progressive build-up of a scalable protective shield against the drone threat.
MDOcore not only ensures interoperability within the German Bundeswehr but also with European and NATO partners.
Acting despite complexity
Countering modern drones is complex: swarm tactics, electronic deception, and autonomous systems represent a formidable technological challenge. In addition, questions remain regarding the division of responsibility between police and armed forces, as well as integration into existing NATO and EU structures. Yet complexity must not lead to inaction.
Systems such as ELYSION and sensors such as TRS-4D LR, the Spexer 2000 family, and NightOwl are already available and operational today. MDOcore further provides the digital architecture for the future: an expandable, interoperable network capable of integrating international partner solutions.
“We have the technology, and we have the expertise for constant evolution. The decisive step now is to procure and deploy these systems,” Hildenbrand stressed.
The current debates in Berlin and Brussels demonstrate clearly: counter-drone defence is among the most urgent capability gaps. Germany is called upon to assume a leadership role. HENSOLDT stands ready – with immediately deployable building blocks and the digital architecture required to develop a European protective shield.