At the 2025 Paris Air Show, MBDA has introduced the "ONE WAY EFFECTOR", a new long-range weapon system designed to saturate enemy air defenses through mass deployment and attrition tactics. Drawing on lessons from recent high-intensity conflicts, including the war in Ukraine, the system aims to challenge and expose sophisticated air defense networks.
Developed through a novel industrial approach, the ONE WAY EFFECTOR is being co-produced with a drone manufacturer and civilian partners, including actors from the automotive sector. This partnership model is designed to support high-volume, low-cost production, with MBDA targeting an output of up to 1,000 units per month.
Launched in salvoes from ground-based platforms, the ONE WAY EFFECTOR is equipped with a sufficiently large warhead to compel interception by enemy systems. The goal is to exhaust adversary resources and force air defense systems to reveal their positions, thereby enabling follow-on strikes by more advanced long-range weaponry.
Eric Béranger, CEO of MBDA, stated:
“ONE WAY EFFECTOR once again demonstrates MBDA's agility to innovate and seek new ways to meet the challenges of new conflict doctrines. We are leveraging civilian industry partnerships to meet the need for mass, and MBDA remains the only player in Europe offering a full spectrum of weapon systems, from precision strike to saturation effectors.”
The ONE WAY EFFECTOR integrates MBDA’s expertise in cruise missiles and remote-controlled munitions, while adopting emerging drone technologies and scalable production methods. According to the company, this initiative represents a new model of attrition warfare, designed to give armed forces a decisive edge in modern battlespaces by overwhelming enemy defenses with sheer volume and sustained pressure.
With this unveiling, MBDA continues to expand its portfolio of saturation weapons and positions itself at the forefront of Europe’s defense innovation landscape.