DSEI 2025: MBDA develops Crossbow One Way Effector (Heavy)

A concept graphic of MBDA's Crossbow one-way effector (heavy) after launch from vehicle rails. (MBDA)

MBDA presented its Crossbow OWE (H) One Way Effector (Heavy), at the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) 2025 exhibition being held in London on 9-12 September.

Weighing 750 kg with modular multirole and non-kinetic payloads of up to 300 kg and a wingspan of 3 m, the 5.3 m long ground-launched OWE (H) has a range over 800 km travelling at subsonic speeds and is designed to destroy static, high-value targets, according to MBDA. The company said the OWE (H) is designed for deep strike, with the ability to operate in a complex electronic environment at an affordable price, enabling combat mass. It features artificial intelligence (AI) image-based navigation, global navigation satellite services (GNSS) with anti-jamming, inertial navigation, and a terminal sensor.

MBDA plans to use small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) and prime contractors across Europe for the OWE (H) with a modular design, using military and commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) subsystems to allow high-volume production and sovereign and partnered supply chains. The company intends to demonstrate the system during the fourth quarter of 2025, with production at scale by the second quarter of 2026. It is offering the possibility of spiral development across the areas of survivability, range, lethality, navigation, and platform integration, depending on customer requirements and the threat.

MBDA envisages the OWE (H) launcher as a 20-foot ISO-compliant vehicle with one or two launch pods.

MBDA's spokesman for the OWE (H) project said Crossbow development has reached a high technological readiness level, with its cost depending on the customer, threat, and mass.

For information on another UK-designed OWE, please see: TigerShark one-way effector breaks cover