Rheinmetall and Praetorian Aeronautics Unveil AERIE Containerized Counter-Drone System

Rheinmetall announced on Oct. 7, 2026, that it has partnered with Australian firm Praetorian Aeronautics to develop AERIE, a containerized system designed to counter uncrewed aircraft. The two companies have taken the system from concept to prototype, and full operator demonstrations are expected in the fourth quarter of 2026.

AERIE is a self-contained, mobile launcher that fits inside a 20-foot shipping container, holds more than 20 interceptors, and can work with a variety of interceptor types. The demonstrator pairs Praetorian’s Arrow Interceptor with its Hadrian command-and-control system, which uses artificial intelligence to manage autonomous effectors across air, land, and sea.