France’s defense procurement agency has awarded MBDA a contract to develop and produce a sovereign long-range one-way attack drone designed to overwhelm enemy air defenses. Known as the One-Way Effector, the UAV was unveiled in 2025 and is scheduled for initial delivery in mid-2027. Developed with Aviation Design and other partners, the platform balances mass, performance, and affordability. Production is expected to reach 100 units annually, with surge capacity exceeding 1,000 units per month. Armed with a 40-kilogram warhead, the drone can strike targets beyond 500 kilometers at speeds of up to 400 kilometers per hour. Positioned between cruise missiles and loitering munitions, it is intended to saturate and expose enemy air defense systems, enabling follow-on strikes.
