Company / Counter-UAS
Diehl Defence
German air-defence and guided-missile specialist behind IRIS-T and the Sky Sphere counter-UAS system.
Überlingen, GermanyCounter-UAS systems
About the company
About Diehl Defence
Diehl Defence GmbH & Co. KG, based in Überlingen on Lake Constance, concentrates the defence and security activities of the family-owned Diehl Group (Nuremberg, founded 1902). It develops guided missiles, ground-based air defence, ammunition and protection systems for the Bundeswehr and international customers.
Its best-known product is the IRIS-T air-to-air missile and its surface-launched versions IRIS-T SLS and SLM, which have been chosen for the European Sky Shield Initiative and are in service in Ukraine. Against small drones Diehl offers the modular Sky Sphere counter-UAS system with the eMissile Cicada effector, combining sensors, effectors and command systems through open interfaces.
Diehl Defence employs several thousand people at sites in Überlingen, Röthenbach and elsewhere in Germany.
In the news11 stories
Counter-UAS for Egypt: Russia offers Cairo the Bizon system
Russia wants to equip Egypt with the short-range counter-UAS system Bizon – shortly after a drone set two ships ablaze in the port of Damietta. Quantities, price and delivery date remain open, and no order is known.
Loitering munition Skystriker: Diehl Defence and Elbit Systems demonstrate hand-over at 80 kilometres
Loitering munition for Germany: following the agreement signed at ILA Berlin in June 2026, Diehl Defence and Elbit Systems have demonstrated Skystriker live. Launches from the Europuls rocket artillery system and production in Germany are in view.
Rohde & Schwarz and Diehl Defence join Boeing's German MQ-28 Ghost Bat industry team
Unmanned systems at ILA Berlin: the new partners were presented there. Alongside Rheinmetall, two further German companies are now on board for the MQ-28 Ghost Bat, contributing weapons, mission and communication systems to the programme.
Fire Point: how the Ukrainian manufacturer strikes targets deep inside Russia with FP-1, FP-2 and Flamingo
An FP-1 hit a refinery in Tyumen, 2,400 kilometres away: within around four years, Fire Point has grown into a manufacturer of long-range drones, cruise missiles and missiles. An overview of FP-1, FP-2, Flamingo and the partnerships in Europe.
Counter-drone laser from Germany: Austrian UGV Ziesel with Inleap Photonics for Ukraine
Hentschel System is mounting the counter-drone laser from Inleap Photonics on its UGV Ziesel, whose base comes from Hawe Mattro in Tyrol. How the technology works, what it is expected to cost and which questions its use in Ukraine must answer.
Unmanned ground vehicle with effector: Diehl Defence's Ziesel fires Spike LR for the first time
Five days, 17 shots: together with Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Eurospike, Diehl Defence has fired the Spike LR from the Ziesel UGV for the first time. This is a first for unmanned ground vehicles; a demonstration for armed forces is planned.
Counter-UAS by laser: Skylanx presents modular platform against drone swarms
FPV drones are cheap, hard to intercept and often a cost problem for conventional air defence. At "Medic Quadriga 2026", Munich-based Skylanx presented its answer: counter-UAS with compact lasers of 3 to 8 kilowatts.
Ground drone Ziesel: Diehl Defence tests UGV at 2,000 metres with the Bundesheer
Snow-covered terrain, extreme weather, high mountains: the Ziesel ground drone and its Platon autonomy package were tested at the Lizum/Walchen training area. Meier Medizintechnik was the partner for the trials.
Loitering munition in live test: Bundesheer delegation at demonstration in Slovenia
For two days, manufacturers showcased loitering munitions and the means to counter them at the Slovenian training area of Poček. Among the numerous military delegations was one from the Austrian Armed Forces (Bundesheer).
Counter-drone at Enforce Tac: Diehl Defence exhibits Sky Sphere with eMissile Cicada
Net or fragmentation warhead: the electrically powered eMissile Cicada is designed for counter-drone defence against class 1 and 2 drones. Diehl Defence is already talking to potential customers and plans to launch Sky Sphere from 2026.
UGV Ziesel wins the “Mule” scenario: Diehl Defence takes first place at ELROB
Autonomously retracing a learned route without GNSS and through dense vegetation: at the European Land Robot Trial in Trier, the UGV Ziesel from Diehl Defence won the “Mule” scenario. It is controlled by the Platon autonomy kit.
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Interview mit Harald Buschek, Chief Program Officer von Diehl Defence
YouTube · Diehl Defence · Watch on YouTube