Overview

• At the London DSEI expo, firms showcased lasers, electronic-warfare jammers, low-cost missiles and interceptor drones intended to cut the cost per kill against swarming UAVs.
• Military buyers face a sharp cost imbalance, with drones costing hundreds or thousands of dollars while many traditional interceptors run into the millions per shot.
• Companies highlighted scalable options such as jamming that can disrupt multiple drones and high-energy lasers that are costly to develop but cheaper to operate once fielded.
• Start-ups and incumbents reported momentum, including British firm Marss’s propeller-driven interceptors and Tytan Technologies’ $19 million raise with tests by Ukrainian and German forces.
• Analysts and UK commentary warned that availability and production capacity now outweigh price, with the UK criticized for slow procurement and thin air-defense stocks despite rising threats.