Destinus and Diehl Defence team up to add a new interceptor class to European air defence
Destinus and Diehl Defence have signed a teaming agreement at ILA Berlin Airshow 2026 to cooperate on European ground-based air defence and counter-UAS systems. As a first step, the Destinus Hornet interceptor will be integrated into Diehl Defence's GARMR counter-UAS system as an additional effector, adding a new interceptor class to a layered air defence architecture. The agreement also establishes a pathway for Hornet to serve as a future secondary effector option within IRIS-T ground-based air defence (GBAD) systems, subject to phased validation and applicable approvals.
Hornet is built for the gap that defines today's threat picture: head-on interception of fast, low-cost aerial threats, including jet-powered one-way attack drones and glide bombs, a target class that sits between classic counter-UAS effectors and high-end air defence missiles. Engaging these threats with high-value interceptors may win an engagement, but it does not scale under saturation. Hornet adds a second effector layer that extends magazine depth and preserves high-value interceptors for the targets that demand them.
"Modern air defence is no longer just a matter of capability. It is a question of capacity and cost-per-engagement," said Mikhail Kokorich, CEO of Destinus. "Hornet adds a cost-effective layer beneath established systems, improving magazine depth and strengthening the overall architecture under high-volume threat conditions."
The integration builds on GARMR's modular, standard-interface architecture, enabling multiple effectors and engagement concepts within a single command-and-control framework. The work will follow a phased validation approach aligned with institutional requirements and applicable approvals.
