The pan-European missile consortium MBDA presented the new systems at the SOFINS 2025 exhibition in France. Given that drone development is not traditionally MBDA’s core domain - being better known for its Storm Shadow / SCALP cruise missiles, Meteor air-to-air missiles, and Brimstone precision-strike weapons - it’s especially interesting to see what the company has achieved in this new field.
The RCX 50 is designed to support infantry units by conducting battlefield reconnaissance and striking enemy targets in both open terrain and urban environments. The RCH 170, in turn, is intended to disable enemy heavy equipment at considerable distances. According to European Defence Review, both kamikaze drones are equipped with modern electronics and artificial intelligence capable of detecting, identifying, tracking, and engaging targets.
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The Akeron RCX 50 is a multirotor-type loitering munition. It has a flight range of 5 km and carries a standardized 500-gram warhead. For observation and targeting, it is equipped with both a daytime camera and a thermal imager.
The RCX 50 can reach speeds of up to 54 km/h, remain airborne for 40 minutes, and weighs just 1.3 kg. Its foldable arms with integrated motors allow it to be transported in a standard backpack.
Thanks to its AI, the RCX 50 can autonomously detect and identify targets. The operator controls the drone via a tablet; to launch an attack, the operator simply taps on the desired target, and the drone automatically flies toward it and strikes.
A similar guidance system and operational concept is used by the U.S.-developed Bolt kamikaze drone, which features machine vision. Bolt is also capable of autonomous attacks and reconnaissance missions, even under active electronic warfare conditions. While it offers significantly superior specifications, it suffers from a major conceptual flaw - one that Western developers have yet to fully recognize - which could ultimately undermine the effectiveness of such systems.
The Akeron RCH 170 is a fixed-wing strike drone with foldable wings, resembling the American Switchblade family of loitering munitions in design. It has a strike range of up to 50 km, a flight endurance of up to 60 minutes, and a total weight of 18 kg, including a 2 kg shaped-charge warhead.
At present, the RCH 170 is launched via a catapult. However, MBDA plans to eventually use a transport-launch container similar to the one used for the Akeron LP. Earlier in 2024, the company demonstrated a launcher for anti-tank guided missiles mounted on an Arquus Sherpa 4×4 light armored vehicle. That system included Akeron LP and MP missiles, along with several unidentified UAVs - likely early prototypes of the Akeron RCH 170.
MBDA plans to begin flight testing of the Akeron RCH 170 in summer 2025. The first test batch of Akeron RCX 50 drones is expected to be produced by the end of 2025, even before the platform’s final development is complete.
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