A major European defense manufacturer has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ParaZero Technologies to develop a vehicle-integrated active protection system against incoming attack drones.
The collaboration is intended to combine a Tier-1 armored vehicle with ParaZero’s DefendAir physical interception technology to establish a built-in active protection layer capable of physically intercepting an approaching hostile drone before it reaches the vehicle. Active integration work has already begun following an initial purchase of DefendAir Net Pods for integration, with ParaZero’s engineering team expected to travel to the manufacturer’s European facility to provide on-site technical support during the integration process.
While modern armored vehicles were designed primarily to withstand conventional ballistic fire, mines, improvised explosive devices, rockets and anti-tank missiles, the rapid proliferation of small FPV attack drones presents a different threat profile. These maneuverable, comparatively low-cost platforms can approach armored vehicles from multiple directions, pursue moving platforms and strike exposed or less-protected areas with high precision.
Furthermore, electronic warfare remains an important part of Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System (C-UAS) defense, but does not provide a universal response to fiber-optic-controlled, autonomously navigating or other communications-resilient drones that may continue toward their targets when conventional radio-frequency links are disrupted.
To counter these threats, the system applies active protection principles by engaging and physically stopping incoming drones on their final approach. Built around a modular architecture, DefendAir uses controlled, non-explosive Net Pods that can be integrated into vehicle-mounted, autonomous, remotely operated or fixed C-UAS systems, according to the platform, threat profile and operational environment.
Ariel Alon, CEO of ParaZero Technologies, commented, “Active protection can no longer be designed only around traditional anti-armor threats. The modern armored platform must also be capable of defeating a small, fast attack drone at its final approach. Together with this European Giant, we are working to integrate DefendAir as an organic protection layer within the vehicle itself. The upcoming on-site engineering work demonstrate that this cooperation is already advancing from strategic alignment into practical integration.”
For ParaZero Technologies, an aerospace defense company developing autonomous solutions for the manned and UAS industry, the partnership supports the company’s strategy of establishing DefendAir as a net-based physical interception layer within next-generation defense platforms. By working with Tier-1 vehicle manufacturers and system integrators, ParaZero aims to embed the technology into broader defense programs and support a transition from individual C-UAS products to integrated, platform-level protection capabilities.
