It sounds like the plot of a military thriller, but it is a tangible technological reality. A missile that intercepts and neutralizes enemy drones, with the particularity of being able to capture them intact rather than reduce them to dust. Anti-drone defense is entering a new era, where operational flexibility becomes a priority over pure destructive power. During the last Enforce Tac fair in Nuremberg, Diehl Defense has unveiled the latest evolution of its Sky Sphere system, based on a peculiarly shaped missile called CICADA. With its four delta wings folded along the hull and an appearance that resembles more a futuristic weapon than a conventional defensive device, this system represents a concrete response to the emerging threat of light drones in both military and civilian contexts. The real revolution? The ability to choose between shooting down and capturing the adversary drone intact.
One system, two approaches
The CICADA anti-drone defense system is not a simple missile. With its 70 centimeters in length and 30 in diameter, this device exists in two distinct configurations to respond to different operational scenarios.
The non-lethal version uses a net to capture small and slow drones, keeping them intact for later analysis. A solution particularly suitable for civilian environments such as stadiums or public events, where limiting collateral damage becomes a priority. The lethal variant, on the other hand, is structurally lighter (not being reusable) and has a fragmentation warhead capable of neutralizing threats in a sphere 10 meters in diameter.
Anti-drone defense and in-flight intelligence
The system seems surprisingly simple to operate. The CICADA anti-drone defense system remains in its container/launcher until control vehicles detect and identify potential threats via radar. What is also impressive is the missile's operational autonomy. At the front is installed a radar sensor for the final approach to the target, while at the rear is a high-speed rotor that accelerates the missile up to 200 km/h.
An integrated battery ensures a flight autonomy of up to five minutes with a maximum range of 5 kilometers: the limit beyond which small drones become difficult to detect by radar. Of course, the interception speed needed to engage a particular drone can impact these parameters.
Tactical flexibility
Weighing less than 10 kg, the CICADA anti-drone defense system can be carried by a single operator, allowing rapid deployment even in narrow or difficult-to-access areas. For specific needs, it can be equipped with additional capabilities, including flight planning, terrain adaptation and obstacle avoidance: a feature particularly important when used in densely populated urban areas.
It is also portable by one person, so it can be easily moved into tight areas.
Looking at this little pyramid missile, I can't help but have mixed feelings. It's one of those devices that I sincerely hope to never see in action on the streets of our cities or above stadiums full of families during a sports Sunday. And yet, in a world where the threat can come silently from the sky, knowing that there is an option that favors capture over destruction, precision over collateral damage, offers a strange form of comfort.
As is often the case with defensive technologies, the paradox is that we develop tools that we never want to have to use, but whose very existence might deter those who intend to use drones for malicious purposes. In this sense, CICADA is a bit like technological insurance: expensive, hopefully useless, but essential anti-drone defense when all else fails.
