In recent years, small drones have increasingly appeared on battlefields. Armed forces use these unmanned aerial systems, often called UAS, to gather intelligence, deliver payloads, or even carry out attacks. Their small size, low cost, and quick movements make them difficult to detect and stop. Traditional air defense systems, which militaries originally built to fight larger aircraft or missiles, often cannot handle swarms of such drones. To provide an effective and affordable solution against these threats, Saab has introduced Nimbrix, a new Counter-UAS missile.
Rising Challenge of Drone Warfare
To address this growing issue, Saab has introduced Nimbrix, its first dedicated Counter-Unmanned Aerial System (C-UAS) missile. This new weapon specifically tackles the risks that drones pose on the battlefield. By creating Nimbrix, Saab highlights how the nature of warfare is changing and how new tools are addressing these emerging threats.
Saab showcases Nimbrix as a cost-effective answer to this challenge. Unlike larger and more expensive air defense missiles, Nimbrix offers a compact, efficient, and affordable design. This makes it possible for militaries to deploy more of them at once, ensuring better protection against drone attacks. The system is also under rapid development to ensure timely availability.
From Runway Hero to Hangar Ghost: Saab 340A Declines into Obsolescence
Key Features and Capabilities of Nimbrix
Nimbrix is a fire-and-forget missile, meaning that once it is launched, the operator does not need to guide it. It can independently track and destroy its target. The missile is expected to have a range of up to 5 kilometers, allowing it to intercept drones at a safe distance.
One of its most notable features is its active target seeker, which enables the missile to lock onto and follow moving drones with high accuracy. This is especially important when dealing with fast and unpredictable drone swarms.
The missile also uses a hard-kill air-burst warhead. This type of warhead explodes close to the target, releasing fragments that can disable or destroy multiple drones in one strike. Such design makes Nimbrix particularly effective against swarms of unmanned aerial systems, where many drones may be attacking at once.
Fear in Moldova: Russian Drones Explode Near Villages
Another key aspect of Nimbrix is its compact size and adaptable mounting options. Forces can set it up in fixed positions on the ground or mount it on vehicles, allowing them to use it in different battlefield conditions. Its flexibility ensures that they can deploy it in both defensive positions and mobile operations.
The emphasis on low cost is central to the design. With drones becoming cheaper and more widespread, it would not be practical to use very expensive missiles against them. By keeping the missile affordable, Nimbrix allows for large-scale deployment, ensuring that defensive coverage is wide and effective.
Nimbrix Deployment Plans and Public Presentation
Saab primarily intends Nimbrix for ground-based use, either operating independently or as part of larger air defense networks. As a stand-alone unit, it can quickly respond to drone threats in specific locations. When forces connect it to broader systems, Nimbrix integrates into a layered defense approach and strengthens overall protection.
The company behind Nimbrix has already begun discussions with potential customers. It plans to start the first deliveries of the missile in 2026. This timeline reflects the urgent demand for effective counter-drone solutions in modern conflict zones.
Jet Fight Erupts! Portugal, Canada Ditch F-35 Dreams for Saab’s Gripen
Saab will also present the system to the public at the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) exhibition in London, scheduled between 9 and 12 September 2025. At this major defense industry event, the company will display Nimbrix at its stand, giving visitors a closer look at the design and its intended capabilities.
By highlighting Nimbrix at such a global platform, Saab shows how the missile provides a practical response to the rapid spread of drones. The unveiling at DSEI marks an important moment, as the company will showcase the missile internationally for one of the first times.