FEINDEF 2025: Hornet Interceptor Drone Takes Aim at Kamikaze UAVs and Swarm Threats
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At the 2025 edition of FEINDEF in Madrid, Destinus revealed a new tactical asset designed to meet the growing operational demand for fast-response counter-drone systems. The Hornet, an autonomous, air-to-air interceptor drone launched from a ground-based trailer system, marks a notable development in short-range defense against UAV threats. Developed for multipurpose and dual-use missions, the Hornet addresses the urgent requirement to neutralize enemy drone swarms, low-cost guided munitions, and kamikaze UAVs that increasingly challenge conventional air defense postures.
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Mounted in an enclosed mobile trailer launcher, the system can house and launch up to eight UAVs (Picture source: Army Recognition)
The Hornet system is engineered for autonomous ground-to-air interception, deploying lightweight drones capable of identifying, pursuing, and engaging airborne targets. Mounted in an enclosed mobile trailer launcher, the system can house and launch up to eight UAVs. Each drone is stored vertically and ejected from a metallic support frame that facilitates rapid deployment without manual intervention. Once launched, the Hornet transitions immediately into autonomous flight and begins mission execution, guided by a hybrid seeker and onboard tracking systems. The system operates through a distributed network of Anti-Drone (LAND) nodes, equipped with drone interceptors and detection radar, enabling it to function as part of a broader mesh defense strategy.
Destinus’ design of the Hornet prioritizes operational economy, ease of maintenance, and autonomous control. The drone employs a canard configuration to enhance flight efficiency and maneuverability. It features an electric propulsion system with a rear-mounted pusher propeller, powered by a high-capacity LiPo battery. The entire platform weighs under 10 kilograms at maximum takeoff, with a wingspan of 1.5 meters and a fuselage length of 1.1 meters. Its onboard payload consists of either a kinetic impact warhead or a fragmentation charge, optimized for neutralizing drones in the small-to-medium weight category, specifically those below 300 kilograms.
The guidance architecture of the Hornet integrates several advanced technologies. A hybrid seeker enables target designation and tracking, while embedded visual navigation systems allow functionality in GPS-denied environments. The aircraft’s modular design facilitates mission-specific customization, allowing sections of the fuselage to be replaced or reconfigured. Onboard AI and machine learning algorithms support autonomous decision-making during engagements, contributing to system adaptability under dynamic combat scenarios.
The drone employs a canard configuration to enhance flight efficiency and maneuverability (Picture source: Army Recognition)
According to technical specifications displayed at the FEINDEF exhibit, the Hornet is capable of intercepting targets at distances up to 20 kilometers and can reach a top speed of 250 kilometers per hour. Its effective temperature operating range spans from -40°C to +40°C, enabling it to operate in varied environmental conditions. Once deployed, the drone requires minimal oversight, making it a suitable solution for rapid, decentralized drone defense in field operations or critical infrastructure protection.
Applications for the Hornet system include interception of hostile UAVs, defense against saturation drone attacks, protection of sensitive infrastructure and naval assets, and even tactical training scenarios. Its compact launcher and electric propulsion make it viable for use in environments where traditional air defense systems may be either too expensive or too logistically complex to deploy.
Destinus’ Hornet represents a growing shift toward mobile, scalable, and autonomous air defense capabilities. By leveraging modularity, electric propulsion, and AI-guided interceptors, the system aims to offer military units a flexible option for responding to modern aerial threats in real time. With increasing drone incursions and the diversification of unmanned aerial platforms in modern warfare, the Hornet provides a timely response to the evolving challenges of low-cost aerial aggression.
The Hornet UAV system combines autonomous interception, electric propulsion, and network-based deployment into a lightweight and mobile defense platform. Its trailer-mounted launcher, modular drone design, and AI-driven targeting enable tactical forces to respond quickly and efficiently to drone threats without reliance on high-cost traditional systems. As defense ecosystems adapt to the growing complexity of aerial threats, systems like the Hornet are poised to play a key role in future counter-UAS strategies.
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At the 2025 edition of FEINDEF in Madrid, Destinus revealed a new tactical asset designed to meet the growing operational demand for fast-response counter-drone systems. The Hornet, an autonomous, air-to-air interceptor drone launched from a ground-based trailer system, marks a notable development in short-range defense against UAV threats. Developed for multipurpose and dual-use missions, the Hornet addresses the urgent requirement to neutralize enemy drone swarms, low-cost guided munitions, and kamikaze UAVs that increasingly challenge conventional air defense postures.
Mounted in an enclosed mobile trailer launcher, the system can house and launch up to eight UAVs (Picture source: Army Recognition)
The Hornet system is engineered for autonomous ground-to-air interception, deploying lightweight drones capable of identifying, pursuing, and engaging airborne targets. Mounted in an enclosed mobile trailer launcher, the system can house and launch up to eight UAVs. Each drone is stored vertically and ejected from a metallic support frame that facilitates rapid deployment without manual intervention. Once launched, the Hornet transitions immediately into autonomous flight and begins mission execution, guided by a hybrid seeker and onboard tracking systems. The system operates through a distributed network of Anti-Drone (LAND) nodes, equipped with drone interceptors and detection radar, enabling it to function as part of a broader mesh defense strategy.
Destinus’ design of the Hornet prioritizes operational economy, ease of maintenance, and autonomous control. The drone employs a canard configuration to enhance flight efficiency and maneuverability. It features an electric propulsion system with a rear-mounted pusher propeller, powered by a high-capacity LiPo battery. The entire platform weighs under 10 kilograms at maximum takeoff, with a wingspan of 1.5 meters and a fuselage length of 1.1 meters. Its onboard payload consists of either a kinetic impact warhead or a fragmentation charge, optimized for neutralizing drones in the small-to-medium weight category, specifically those below 300 kilograms.
The guidance architecture of the Hornet integrates several advanced technologies. A hybrid seeker enables target designation and tracking, while embedded visual navigation systems allow functionality in GPS-denied environments. The aircraft’s modular design facilitates mission-specific customization, allowing sections of the fuselage to be replaced or reconfigured. Onboard AI and machine learning algorithms support autonomous decision-making during engagements, contributing to system adaptability under dynamic combat scenarios.
The drone employs a canard configuration to enhance flight efficiency and maneuverability (Picture source: Army Recognition)
According to technical specifications displayed at the FEINDEF exhibit, the Hornet is capable of intercepting targets at distances up to 20 kilometers and can reach a top speed of 250 kilometers per hour. Its effective temperature operating range spans from -40°C to +40°C, enabling it to operate in varied environmental conditions. Once deployed, the drone requires minimal oversight, making it a suitable solution for rapid, decentralized drone defense in field operations or critical infrastructure protection.
Applications for the Hornet system include interception of hostile UAVs, defense against saturation drone attacks, protection of sensitive infrastructure and naval assets, and even tactical training scenarios. Its compact launcher and electric propulsion make it viable for use in environments where traditional air defense systems may be either too expensive or too logistically complex to deploy.
Destinus’ Hornet represents a growing shift toward mobile, scalable, and autonomous air defense capabilities. By leveraging modularity, electric propulsion, and AI-guided interceptors, the system aims to offer military units a flexible option for responding to modern aerial threats in real time. With increasing drone incursions and the diversification of unmanned aerial platforms in modern warfare, the Hornet provides a timely response to the evolving challenges of low-cost aerial aggression.
The Hornet UAV system combines autonomous interception, electric propulsion, and network-based deployment into a lightweight and mobile defense platform. Its trailer-mounted launcher, modular drone design, and AI-driven targeting enable tactical forces to respond quickly and efficiently to drone threats without reliance on high-cost traditional systems. As defense ecosystems adapt to the growing complexity of aerial threats, systems like the Hornet are poised to play a key role in future counter-UAS strategies.
