Russian versions of Iranian-designed drones Shahed 131 and Shahed 136 (Geran-1 and Geran-2, according to Russian nomenclature) have had a constant presence in Ukraine since a few months after the start of the invasion. Ukrainian defense analysts have detected that the attack profile of the Iranian-made Shahed drones has evolved in recent months and They now typically fly at lower altitudes, between 2 and 5 kilometers, to avoid being shot down by ground defenses.. Faced with the threat of low-altitude UAVs, an Estonia-based defense start-up has developed the Mark-1 mini-missile, which will be tested this month in an unspecified location in Ukraine, according to Defense News.
The executive director of Frankenburg Technologies, Kusti Salmhas stated that the company’s goal with this new missile is to help Ukraine win the war. ‘To achieve this, we are offering a prototype of a new inexpensive missile to shoot down air targetsparticularly unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs),’ says Salm. If the tests are successful, kyiv is expected to approve its use against Russian drones.
The Frankenburg Technologies mini-missile is a next-generation air defense missile that has an advanced aiming system powered by artificial intelligence. This system allows the missile to have real-time situational awareness, allowing it to accurately detect, track and neutralize UAV threats.
The missile is designed to engage unmanned aircraft operating at altitudes of up to 2 kilometerswhich is within the flight range of the Shahed drones deployed by Russian forces. The AI-powered technology behind the Mark-1 mini-missile provides a significant advantage over more traditional countermeasures.
A key selling point of the Frankenburg mini-missile is its cost. Traditional air defense systems are often prohibitive, but Frankenburg has set out to make its missile ten times more affordable than conventional alternatives.
In addition to cost effectiveness, the missile is designed to be manufactured at a fast pacewith a planned initial production of several dozen units per week. This capacity is expected to increase to hundreds of missiles per week by the third quarter of 2025.
If the tests to be carried out in real combat scenarios are successful, missile manufacturing could be established in Ukraine. Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkurrecently highlighted that his country supports Ukraine’s military production capabilities and stated that it can manage its defense effectively if it has adequate resources. Frankenburg Technologies has offices, in addition to Estonia, in London, where it will invest 50 million euros to research and development of low cost engines.