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At NATO's Adazi base in Latvia, Frankenburg Technologies has carried out the first interception of a high-speed air target through the full kill chain cycle – from detection to kinetic destruction (hard-kill).
Main theses:
- Mark 1 is the first economical interceptor missile, created at a NATO base in Latvia to combat drones.
- The missile, made from commercially available components, controlled by artificial intelligence and with a range of up to 2 km, was brought to combat launch in 13 months.
- Frankenburg Technologies is ushering in a new era of affordability and scalability of missile technology in Europe, which is appropriate for destroying drone swarms.
Latvia tests cheap drone interceptor missile
The company announced this on the social network X.
This is a breakthrough for European defense innovation — a true “SpaceX moment” for the rocket industry, bringing affordability and scale to a sector traditionally characterized by high cost and low production volumes.
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The Mark 1 was the first mass-produced guided interceptor missile designed primarily to combat drones. The Mark 1 was built from commercially available components and was brought to operational readiness in 13 months.
The missile is guided by artificial intelligence and designed to be independent of communications systems after launch. It is designed to destroy long-range drones and as a response to the threat of drone swarms.
The missile is only 65 centimeters long and has a range of 1.2 miles (almost 2 km).
At the Ādaži NATO base in Latvia, Frankenburg Technologies executed the first full kill-chain hard-kill intercept against a fast-moving aerial target.
This is a breakthrough for European defense innovation — a true “SpaceX moment” for the missile industry, bringing affordability… pic.twitter.com/7m2UseWIIL
— Frankenburg Technologies (@FrankenburgTech) December 18, 2025
The company noted that this is just the beginning, as all categories of missile weapons require increased availability and scalability, which defines Frankenburg's mission.
The company also emphasized that the achievement was the result of disciplined and coordinated work by an international team of engineers from Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, the United Kingdom, and Germany.
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It was previously reported that the Mark 1 is about ten times cheaper than existing air defense missiles. The Stinger missile costs over $526,000, so the Mark 1 is estimated at about $52,000.