Fulgur (missile)

Last updated
Fulgur
Type Man-portable air-defense system
Place of originItaly
Service history
In servicePlanned for early 2028
Used by See Operators
Production history
Designer
DesignedSince 2023
Manufacturer MBDA Italy
ProducedFrom 2026
No. builtProduction capacity > 1,000 per year [1]
Specifications
Mass10 kg (22 lb) (missile) [2]
Length1.5 m (4.9 ft)
Diameter70 mm (2.8 in) (missile)

Effective firing range5 km (3.1 mi)

EngineRocket engine by AvioAero
Maximum speed Supersonic
Guidance
system
  • Target acquisition: electro-optic sensor with a processing unit and an IFF
  • Missile guidance: "Sophisticated seeker featuring image processing capabilities"
Steering
system
Canards
Launch
platform
  • Man-portable launcher
  • Vehicle-launched planned
  • Aircraft-launch planned

The Fulgur is a very short-range air defence system developed by MBDA for the Italian Army. [3]

Contents

Origins

The FIM-92 Stinger was approaching the end of its service life in the Italian Armed Forces in the early 2020s. Italy was considering a successor. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine (full scale 2022), with the multiplication of aerial threats with several types of drones, Italy considered that a large quantity of systems was necessary, and launched a programme in collaboration with MBDA. [4]

Programme history

Project unveiled

In 2024, at the Farnborough Air Show, MBDA unveiled a new MANPADS, a programme that was called "VSHORAD" (very short range air defence). A mock-up of the missile was presented with the following description: [5]

Development contract

At the Paris Air Show in June 2025, MBDA and the Italian Army signed a contract for its development. The missile's name ("Fulgur") was unveiled. And additional characteristics were unveiled. A goal for its introduction was set for early 2028. And additional characteristics were unveiled: [6]

Design and production

There is an expected production capacity of at least 1,000 missiles per year. [7]

The supply chain and assembly are expected to be done in the following way:

MBDA SkyWarden NNbS, with another missile (DefendAir) MBDA Sky Warden NNbS detail at ILA-2022.jpg
MBDA SkyWarden NNbS, with another missile (DefendAir)

Variants

Planned variants

Two variants have yet been mentioned by MBDA and the Italian Army:

Potential variants

Operators

Future operators

Flag of Italy.svg Italy
Development contract signed in June 2025. [6]

References

  1. "PAS 2025 – MBDA details its new VSHORAD missile named Fulgur". EDR. 17 June 2025. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  2. "PAS 2025 – MBDA details its new VSHORAD missile named Fulgur". EDR. 17 June 2025. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  3. "MBDA awarded contract to develop FULGUR very short-range missile for the Italian Army | MBDA". www.mbda-systems.com. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
  4. staff, EDR On-Line editorial (2023-03-27). "Italy looks for a Stinger replacement assigning a preliminary study to MBDA Italia". EDR Magazine. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
  5. 1 2 3 Jones, Colton (2024-07-22). "MBDA debuts new VSHORAD system at Farnborough Airshow". defence-blog.com. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
  6. 1 2 3 "MBDA awarded contract to develop FULGUR very short-range missile for the Italian Army | MBDA". www.mbda-systems.com. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
  7. 1 2 Valpolini, Paolo (2025-06-17). "PAS 2025 - MBDA details its new VSHORAD missile named Fulgur". EDR Magazine. Retrieved 2025-06-17.