Saab reveals new Counter-UAS missile Nimbrix
In August, Saab has revealed Nimbrix, its first ever dedicated Counter-Unmanned Aerial System C-UAS missile. The missile is developed to counter the increasing threat from small drones on the battlefield.
The fire-and-forget missile is being rapidly developed at Saab with the aim to deliver a system featuring a target seeker, a hard-kill warhead, and a small footprint – all at a low cost. The range will be up to 5 km with an active seeker to track its target. Its warhead can effectively engage and defeat UAS swarms using an air-burst mode. The missile operates as a ground-based system and can be operated independently or as part of a larger air defence system. With flexible mounting options to fit different customer requirements, Nimbrix can be mounted on various vehicles or in fixed configurations. The cost-effective nature of the missile contributes to maximising deployed numbers to generate sufficient air defence coverage.
In air defence, there are two fundamental approaches to threat neutralisation: soft kill and hard kill. This distinction is particularly relevant in the case of drone attacks, as drones can be used both as reconnaissance tools and as precision strike weapons. ‘When discussing C-UAS solutions, we must first find common ground and precisely define what we are talking about: the Counter-UAS that are used in peacetime to protect civilian infrastructure, or those that must protect troops on the front line from swarms of drones? Are we talking about military (MOTS) or commercial (COTS) products, and how do their acquisition costs differ?’ explains Per Järbur, air defence expert at Saab.
Nimbrix
The spectrum of defence weapons is fundamentally diverse, ranging from electronic warfare and cyber defence to kinetic weapons. However, the cost ratio often remains a challenge with drones, as the cost of deploying and using sophisticated defence systems is often disproportionate to the low cost of drone attacks. While a drone might cost only a few hundred euro, defence with sophisticated weapons can cost several million euro – and have long production times. An answer to this challenge is Nimbrix.