Rheinmetall develops containerized air defense system to counter attack drones

As part of the partnership, the prototype was created based on the initial concept in just 12 months. The AERIE containerized air defense system is an autonomous C-UAS launcher that is agnostic to the type of interceptors used.

The system can accommodate more than 20 interceptors and is highly mobile, as it is housed in a standard shipping container.

The demonstrator is equipped with the Arrow interceptor and the Hadrian command-and-control system from Praetorian Aeronautics, both developed and manufactured in Australia.

What is known about the Arrow interceptor drone

Arrow is an autonomous, high-speed, low-cost interceptor designed to destroy various types of unmanned systems beyond line of sight.

Hadrian C2 is an advanced system with artificial intelligence elements designed to control autonomous effectors in the air, on land, and at sea.

Thanks to its rapid deployment and reloading capabilities, AERIE offers an effective and cost-efficient containerized solution for countering low-cost drones. The transition of the AERIE system to the full-scale demonstration stage for operators is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2026.

As RBC-Ukraine previously reported, ground robots have remained one of the most dynamic areas of Ukraine's defense industry in recent months. In September, the Rheinmetall Croatian Komodo unmanned ground vehicle underwent bridge-laying tests.

We also reported that soldiers from the Alter Ego UGV battalion of the 93rd Separate Mechanized Brigade developed a unique technology that allows UGVs to be deployed using drones. Systems in which one drone carries another into the mission area are known as "marsupials."