European firm unveils pocket-sized missile to counter Russian drones

Estonian defense firm Frankenburg Technology has developed the "Mark 1," a palm-sized, AI-guided missile designed to intercept and destroy Russian drones, particularly the low-and-slow UAVs like the Iranian-made Shahed-131 and Shahed-136 used in Ukraine and near European borders. Measuring 25 inches in length and equipped with solid-rocket propulsion and autonomous guidance, the Mark 1 offers a cost-effective alternative to traditional jet interceptors, which are expensive and inefficient against inexpensive drones. The missile aims to provide scalable, affordable defense for Europe amid increasing Russian drone incursions reported in NATO countries such as Romania, Poland, Belgium, and notably near Brussels Airport in November 2023. The Mark 1 missile is intentionally designed as a pragmatic, low-cost solution rather than an all-weather, all-theatre weapon, balancing price with acceptable performance. While the company targets a 90% hit rate, live-fire tests have so far achieved roughly 50% reliability over 53 trials