BAE Systems unveils BlackThorn modular warhead family for drone-era warfare

London – BAE Systems has unveiled BlackThorn, a new family of modular warheads designed for the current generation of low-cost, mass-produced weapons reshaping modern warfare. The system was announced on July 21, 2026, and is available in three calibre variants: 40 mm, 70 mm, and 120 mm.

Modular Design for Multi-Role Capability

BlackThorn is built around a modular architecture, allowing the same core technology to be configured for different mission requirements. The warhead family supports multiple effects, including:

• Blast
• Fragmentation
• Multi-purpose
• Anti-armour

This flexibility enables a single warhead family to cover the operational range of a much larger and more expensive inventory, reducing both cost and the logistics burden of stockpiling separate weapon types for different threats. The calibre options can be swapped across platforms without requiring manufacturers to design a new warhead from scratch for each weapon system.

First Customer: Frankenburg Technologies Mark I Missile

BlackThorn has already secured its first integration deal. BAE Systems selected the warhead for use in the Mark I, a short-range air defence missile built by Frankenburg Technologies, an Estonian missile manufacturer.

The Mark I is a compact, solid-fuel interceptor with a range of under 2 km (1.2 miles). It is designed to engage Class I through III unmanned aerial systems, including:

• Slow, propeller-driven drones flying at 150–200 km/h (93–124 mph)
• Faster, jet-powered one-way attack drones in the 400–650 km/h (249–404 mph) range, such as Russia’s Shahed drones

Frankenburg has stated a production target of approximately 100 Mark I missiles per day, or roughly 10,000 per year, at a fraction of the cost of comparable interceptors. The company has already secured a UK Ministry of Defence contract to help build domestic manufacturing capacity under Britain’s Low-Cost Air Defence Effectors programme.

Collaboration Agreement

The BlackThorn integration follows a formal collaboration agreement signed between BAE Systems and Frankenburg Technologies earlier in 2026. The partnership combines BAE Systems’ decades of expertise in energetic materials and fuze technology with Frankenburg’s rapid, low-cost missile manufacturing.

This collaboration reflects a broader trend in European defence procurement, where legacy manufacturers are increasingly partnering with newer, leaner companies to accelerate the transition from concept to battlefield.

Executive Statements

Scott Jamieson, Managing Director of BAE Systems’ Maritime and Land Defence Solutions, said:

“BlackThorn combines decades of expertise in warhead design, energetic materials and fuzing with our proven experience in delivering high-volume munitions to demonstrate a new way of thinking about payloads for a range of platforms that meet the demands of the modern battlefield.”

He added:

“This innovation provides an advanced, affordable solution that meets the evolving needs of our customers and delivers multi-role warheads for the next generation of attritable platforms, missiles, autonomous platforms and counter drone capability at pace to stay ahead of emerging threats.”

Dan Hallett, Managing Director of Frankenburg Technologies UK, said:

“Frankenburg was founded to deliver affordable mass at the speed demanded by modern warfare. Our collaboration with BAE Systems brings together advanced UK warhead technology and low-cost missile manufacturing to create a scalable interceptor capability. Together, we are proving that effective air defence can be delivered quickly, at scale, and at a price point that enables mass deployment.”