Interceptor for “Less Than $50 Thousand”: MARSS Presents Interceptor-MR Kinetic UAV

MARSS Defense Labs has presented the Interceptor-MR, an autonomous interceptor drone designed to respond to the challenges of modern warfare, particularly between Ukraine and Russia.

Stephen Scott, Head of MARSS Defense Labs, who has 16 years of experience at MBDA, including as head of Future Battlefield Capability, developed it, AeroTime reports.

The Interceptor-MR is an “electric missile without a rocket engine,” as Scott describes it. It has four propellers, does not use explosives or fuel, and is capable of destroying drones at a range of up to 5 km, hitting the target at 288 km/h. With this speed, Scott estimates that most missions will last no more than five minutes.

The drone has a vertical launch. After detecting a threat, the Interceptor receives an update of the target’s coordinates, and when it approaches, it switches to autonomous guidance using an infrared camera. The operator can control the process through the NiDAR Command system and cancel the attack if necessary.

The system requires no special training for the operator, and if the attack is canceled, the drone simply returns to the base.

The Interceptor-MR costs less than $50,000 per unit, which is significantly cheaper than short-range missile systems.

MARSS is positioning the Interceptor as a point defense system for critical infrastructure and military installations. At the same time, the drone is designed to be dual-functional – it can be used to protect energy facilities, oil refineries, and other civilian targets.