Europe firm unveils 310-mile-range kamikaze drone for swarm attacks

European defense firm MBDA has unveiled the One Way Effector, a low-cost, kamikaze-style drone designed for long-range, swarm attack missions, at the Paris Air Show 2025. Developed since late 2024 in partnership with a drone manufacturer and a French automotive company, the drone features a jet engine, carries an 88-pound (40 kg) warhead, and can strike targets up to 310 miles (500 kilometers) away. MBDA plans to produce 1,000 units monthly, aiming for initial batch delivery by 2027, with hopes that the French military will adopt the system. The drone is intended to saturate enemy air defenses, forcing them to reveal their positions for subsequent neutralization by longer-range systems. The One Way Effector was developed with feedback from armed forces engaged in conflicts such as the Russia-Ukraine war, reflecting lessons learned from recent drone warfare. MBDA emphasizes that the drone’s salvo firing capability is designed to deplete enemy resources and