Diehl Defence Demonstrates KDV and CICADA Drone Defense Systems in Successful Grafenwoehr Trials

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Diehl Defence has successfully carried out a series of drone defense trials at the Grafenwoehr Military Training Area, demonstrating the effectiveness of its latest systems against evolving aerial threats. The campaign focused on two key products, the Kinetic Defence Vehicle (KDV) and the eMissile CICADA, which forms part of the modular Sky Sphere system. Both systems were tested under realistic operational conditions to validate their integration, automation, and engagement capabilities against small and fixed wing drones.

Photo:Diehl

The Kinetic Defence Vehicle proved its ability to detect, track, and neutralize small drones through a fully automated process. Using radar and electro-optical sensors as primary detection tools, the system was able to identify targets and engage them with precision. A secondary effector provided an additional layer of protection, ensuring redundancy and improved reliability in complex scenarios.

In trials against fixed wing drones, the KDV demonstrated integration with a long-range effector, achieving a successful intercept. This capability expands the vehicle’s operational envelope, allowing it to protect both mobile forces and stationary facilities from drones operating at higher altitudes. The use of artificial intelligence automation further enhanced the system’s responsiveness, reducing reaction times and increasing engagement success rates.

Photo:Diehl

Parallel to the KDV tests, Diehl Defence also evaluated the Sky Sphere drone defense system and its CICADA eMissile effector. Sky Sphere is designed as a modular solution that forms the innermost layer of Diehl’s multi-layered air defense approach. The trials emphasized optimization of the sensor-to-shooter chain, ensuring seamless coordination between detection, classification, and engagement in dynamic scenarios.

The CICADA eMissile represents a new generation of electrically powered effectors tailored for countering NATO Class I and smaller Class II drones. Unlike conventional missile systems, CICADA offers flexible engagement options, including a fragmentation warhead for destructive capability and a non-lethal net for neutralization without collateral damage. This dual-mode approach provides commanders with adaptable tools depending on mission requirements.

Photo:Diehl

For the trials, CICADA was deployed in a containerized version, highlighting its operational flexibility and ease of integration into existing defense infrastructures. The container format allows rapid deployment and scalability, making it suitable for both fixed installations and mobile units.

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