MBDA awarded contract to develop FULGUR very short-range missile for the Italian Army

MBDA signed a development contract to equip the Italian Army with a very short-range air defence (VSHORAD) system. Announcing the contract during Paris Air Show currently under way at Le Bourget from 16-20 June 2025, MBDA also unveiled the name of the missile – ‘FULGUR’ – at the core of the system that is a solution to an operational requirement expressed by the Italian Army.

FULGUR is a man-portable, supersonic, fire and forget, all weather, day and night interceptor. It is equipped with a seeker with image processing capabilities and counters a threat set that includes small drones, helicopters and fighter jets. Its features and performances are fully compliant with NATO standards. The first delivery of this operational missile and man-portable launcher is aimed for early 2028.

FULGUR will also be integrated into SKY WARDEN, MBDA’s modular, scalable, and evolvable flagship system to counter unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS). Capitalizing on MBDA’s expertise in the design and development of air defence systems, the new missile will contribute to reinforcing the company’s offer for a European multi-layered air defence capability, ranging from very short-range to anti-ballistic/anti-hypersonic defence.

Being man-portable, FULGUR will also give a tactical advantage when mounted on military vehicles. The missile is designed for ease of integration on current vehicles such as the IDV VTLM2 with Leonardo turrets as well as 8×8 and armoured platforms, or future ones equipped with automated turrets. Fulgur can also be air launched and is suitable for integration onto helicopters.

Lorenzo Mariani, Executive Group Director Sales & Business Development MBDA, declared: “We are really proud to support the Italian Army, and offer to future export customers a very short-range solution that integrates into multi-layered air defence systems. FULGUR completes MBDA’s offer in the VSHORAD segment and it will give Europe a totally autonomous and technologically sovereign very short-range capability, able to evolve into an air-to-air system, operational on a rotary wing, thanks to its flexibility and ease of integration.”

A 1:1 scale model is displayed on the MBDA stand (A10) at the Paris Air Show, and next to Leonardo’s AW 249 helicopter display.