Unifly Partners with MBDA to Develop End-to-End Counter-Drone Solutions for Critical Infrastructure
Terra Drone subsidiary Unifly, a Belgian UTM service provider, has signed a cooperation agreement with European defense giant MBDA Systems to jointly develop sovereign, modular end-to-end counter-UAS (C-UAS) solutions. The partnership covers detection, identification, and response coordination against suspicious drones, targeting airports, ports, and critical infrastructure. The announcement was made on June 15, 2026.
Highlights
- Unifly and MBDA signed a cooperation agreement on June 15, 2026, to co-develop a sovereign, modular end-to-end C-UAS solution covering detection, identification, and response coordination.
- The partnership combines Unifly's commercially deployed UTM platform — with over 10 deployments globally — and MBDA's SKY WARDEN counter-drone system to protect critical infrastructure such as airports, ports, and power plants.
- NATO member states have set a target of allocating up to 5% of GDP to defense by 2035, with up to 1.5% directed toward critical infrastructure protection, driving demand for C-UAS solutions.
- Terra Drone entered the defense sector in March 2026 and is developing the Terra A1 (rocket-type) and Terra A2 (fixed-wing) interceptor drones, with future integration into the Unifly C-UAS platform planned.
- The joint initiative will launch initially in Belgium before expanding to international markets, with both companies targeting airports, ports, energy facilities, and public events as primary use cases.
Tokyo, June 15, 2026 — Terra Drone Corporation, a Japan-based leader in drone and urban air mobility (UAM) technology, has announced that its subsidiary Unifly — a leading Belgian UAS Traffic Management (UTM) service provider — has signed a cooperation agreement with MBDA Systems, one of Europe's largest defense companies. The two parties will jointly develop a sovereign, modular, end-to-end counter-UAS (C-UAS) solution capable of detecting, identifying, and coordinating responses to suspicious drones operating within designated airspace.
Partnership Overview
Under this agreement, Unifly will combine its proven UTM track record across multiple operational environments worldwide with MBDA's advanced defense systems and expertise to deliver an integrated C-UAS platform. The platform is designed to automatically determine whether a detected drone is a legitimate, authorized aircraft or a hostile threat, and to support rapid, effective response actions.
A C-UAS platform refers to an integrated framework for detecting, identifying, and responding to suspicious drones operating within a defined airspace. Through this collaboration, the two companies aim to enable automated threat discrimination and support swift countermeasures.
Background
Across Europe, NATO member states have adopted policies targeting defense-related spending of up to 5% of GDP by 2035, with up to 1.5% earmarked for the development and protection of critical infrastructure — including ports, power plants, and airports.
As concerns mount over unauthorized or malicious drone activity targeting critical infrastructure, C-UAS capabilities are growing in importance not only on the battlefield but also across a wide range of peacetime defense and security applications, encompassing energy facilities, ports, airports, telecommunications infrastructure, and other vital assets.
Addressing drone-related security risks in peacetime requires not only C-UAS capabilities spanning detection, identification, and response coordination, but also the ability to determine whether a detected drone is conducting a legitimate operation. Without the ability to cross-reference aircraft and operational data in real time, the risk of inappropriate responses or operational delays increases significantly. Integration with UTM systems — which manage data on legitimate drone operations — is therefore becoming increasingly critical.
Against this backdrop, governments and organizations are actively seeking reliable solutions that can both detect and counter incoming threats and integrate seamlessly with UTM infrastructure.
Future Outlook
Looking ahead, Unifly and MBDA will advance concrete joint proposals starting in Belgium before expanding to other regions, pursuing commercial opportunities in global markets.
Terra Drone formally entered the defense sector in March 2026, strengthening its foothold through strategic investment in a Ukrainian interceptor drone company. With the anticipated wider deployment of the rocket-type interceptor drone Terra A1 and the fixed-wing interceptor drone Terra A2, Terra Drone will explore potential integration opportunities between these platforms and Unifly's UTM-powered end-to-end C-UAS solution, further enhancing the competitiveness of the Terra Drone Group's overall offering.
Through partnerships of this kind, Unifly and MBDA aim to continuously strengthen capabilities against drone threats in security-critical environments — including airports, ports, critical infrastructure, and public events — as the Terra Drone Group pursues the expansion of its global footprint in the drone and airspace security sector.
Statements from Leadership
Andres Van Swalm, CEO of Unifly:
"This collaboration is a strong demonstration of Flemish and Belgian technological expertise — not only contributing to the civil drone industry, but also to the defense sector, where safe and coordinated airspace management is increasingly vital. With our UAS traffic management platform, Unifly brings critical capabilities to the C-UAS challenge. Working with an outstanding partner like MBDA, which recognizes our vision and expertise, allows us to demonstrate a joint solution in Belgium and show its potential for international scale."
Eric Béranger, CEO of MBDA:
"MBDA is delighted to be working with Unifly to explore new opportunities in the counter-drone domain. As the only European company capable of offering a full range of sovereign air defense systems, MBDA has built a layered portfolio — from the counter-drone capabilities of the SKY WARDEN system to solutions addressing the most sophisticated threats. Together, we combine complementary expertise to tackle increasingly complex aerial threats and protect Belgian skies and beyond."
About MBDA
MBDA is a unique multinational European group and a global leader in complex weapons systems, playing a critical role in national protection. Founded in the spirit of international cooperation, MBDA and its more than 20,000 employees are united in their commitment to supporting the sovereignty of nations and their allies worldwide. As an innovation accelerator, MBDA is the only European group capable of designing and producing complex weapons to meet all existing and future operational requirements across land, sea, and air domains. MBDA is jointly owned by Airbus (37.5%), BAE Systems (37.5%), and Leonardo (25%). For more information, visit www.mbda-systems.com.
About Unifly NV
Unifly is a leading aviation technology company dedicated to enhancing the safety and efficiency of autonomous aviation through cutting-edge technology. The Unifly platform serves as a critical bridge within the UAS ecosystem, enabling next-generation aircraft to integrate safely and reliably into airspace. Through digitization and automated traffic management, seamlessly integrated with drone and UAM operations, Unifly is addressing the explosive growth in air traffic anticipated over the coming decades. The company has successfully completed more than ten commercial UTM deployments, establishing its position as a global industry leader. For more information, visit Unifly.aero or contact press@unifly.aero.
About Terra Drone Corporation
Terra Drone Corporation, headquartered in Japan, is a global leader in drone and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) solutions. Guided by its mission to "Unlock the 'X' Dimension," the company drives innovation through cross-domain integration. Terra Drone focuses on surveying, inspection, agriculture, and UTM, serving industries including oil and gas, construction, chemicals, energy, and agriculture.
With over 3,000 completed projects worldwide, Terra Drone has achieved major milestones in drone operations. In July 2023, the company acquired a majority stake in Unifly, a global leader in UTM platforms. In February 2024, it further invested in U.S.-based Aloft Technologies to expand its UTM capabilities. Terra Drone was listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market on November 29, 2024 (ticker: 278A), and was ranked the world's No. 1 drone service provider in 2024. For five consecutive years, Terra Drone has been recognized by Drone Industry Insights as one of the world's top three industrial drone service providers. For more information, visit www.terra-drone.net.
Media Contact: Terra Drone Corporation PR Team Phone: +81-3-6419-7193 Email: pr@terra-drone.co.jp
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