MBDA Unveils 'Fulgur' New-Generation Supersonic VSHORAD Missile in 2025 Paris Air Show

At the 2025 Paris Air Show, European missile giant MBDA officially introduced its latest addition to the world of very short-range air defence (VSHORAD) systems — the Fulgur. Designed to fill a long-standing gap in MBDA’s lower-tier air defence missile family, Fulgur arrives as a timely response to the rapidly changing modern battlefield, where the demand for portable, high-speed, and reliable air defence systems has surged, especially after lessons learned from the Ukraine conflict.

What is the Fulgur?
The name Fulgur — Latin for “lightning” — reflects the missile’s agility, speed, and precision. Until now, the project was known simply by its category, VSHORAD. The unveiling was made in the presence of Italian Army Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Carmine Masiello, marking a significant milestone for Italy’s defence industry.

Fulgur was developed in record time after MBDA launched a study program in 2023 to address the growing need for advanced shoulder-launched air defence systems. With dwindling missile stockpiles across Europe and a limited variety of MANPADS (Man-Portable Air-Defense Systems) in the West, this new missile aims to offer a homegrown, cutting-edge alternative with enhanced performance over legacy systems like the US-made Stinger.

Key Features and Specifications of the Fulgur Missile:

• Category: VSHORAD / MANPADS

• Mass: Approx. 10 kg

• Length: 1.5 metres

• Diameter: 70 mm

• Range: Up to 5 km

• Speed: Supersonic

• Seeker Type: New-generation electro-optical imaging infrared sensor (developed jointly by Leonardo and MBDA)

• Warhead: Designed by MBDA, production by a third-party supplier

• Rocket Motor: Supplied by AvioAero

System Configurations:

1. Shoulder-Launched MANPADS:

   • Launch tube integrated with a gripstock

   • Electro-optic target acquisition sensor

   • Integrated processing unit

   • Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) capability

2. Vehicle-Mounted System:

   • Remotely operated turret with four ready-to-fire missiles

   • Can be mounted on light armoured vehicles

   • Capable of firing while on the move

3. Air-Launched Variant:

   • Discussions underway with Leonardo for integrating Fulgur onto the AW249, Italy’s new combat helicopter replacing the AW129 Mangusta.

Intended Targets:
Fulgur is designed to engage a variety of aerial threats including:

• Fighter aircraft

• Attack helicopters

• Drones (UAVs)

• Subsonic cruise missiles

Production and Development Timeline:
After a rapid study phase and preliminary design review, the Fulgur project is now moving through detailed and critical design reviews. A first live-fire test is planned by 2028. MBDA has already secured a first production contract, aiming to industrialise the missile swiftly.

Initially, production was targeted at a few hundred units per year. However, with NATO updating its force readiness requirements, the production goal was dramatically increased into the thousands annually. Critical components like seekers will be manufactured at MBDA’s Fusaro facility near Naples, while final assembly details remain under wraps.

MBDA also has facilities in Aulla for the Aster missile and is building a new plant in Noceto, near Piacenza, for assembling the CAMM-ER missile system — both reflecting the company’s expanding production capabilities in Italy.

Why Fulgur Matters:
Modern conflicts like the war in Ukraine have shown how essential agile, portable air defence systems are, especially in fast-changing frontlines where drones, helicopters, and cruise missiles operate at low altitudes. Fulgur offers European armed forces — and export customers — a new, domestically-controlled, high-performance VSHORAD missile tailored for modern warfare, closing a critical gap in air defence.

By combining supersonic speed, advanced sensors, and flexible deployment options, the MBDA Fulgur is set to become a key player in Europe’s new-generation battlefield air defence systems.