Germany's Helsing unveils in-house air defence system Contra

German defence technology company Helsing unveiled its Contra air defence system along with new guided missiles at an event in Berlin on Monday.

The Munich-based drone and software manufacturer said its AD-1 Inferno and AD-2 Ambush missiles had been designed to intercept jet-powered attack drones and cruise missiles.

Helsing described the AD-1 Inferno as a high-speed, jet-powered guided missile. It can circle in the air, operate in swarms and engage targets repeatedly, according to the company.

AD-2 Ambush is a guided missile powered by a solid-fuel rocket motor, designed for rapid interception missions. It reaches speeds of around 3,000 km/h and has a range of more than 20 kilometres, Helsing said.

In presenting the systems, Helsing pointed to Russia's expanding production of jet-powered drones and cruise missiles. The Contra air defence system is designed to counter this threat, it said.

It combines sensors and interceptor weapons into a unified system that will be able to "detect and engage hundreds or thousands of drones and missiles simultaneously," Helsing said.

The system has been designed so that other systems can be integrated within days, according to the company.