Cyprus and France to jointly develop a drone to counter drones

Cypriot company SignalGeneriX and French Aerix Systems have signed an agreement to jointly develop the dual-purpose interceptor drone AXS-S1 SPIDER-AI. The project is entirely self-funded.

Division of responsibilities:
• French Aerix Systems is responsible for creating the drone platform itself. The aircraft will feature a unique patented omnidirectional movement system: a speed of up to 200 km/h, stability in winds of up to 100 km/h, instant braking in 2.5 seconds, and a turning radius of 1 meter.
• Cypriot SignalGeneriX will develop the onboard mini-computer SGX EDGE-AI based on the powerful NVIDIA Jetson Orin NX processor (100 TOPS). It will enable target recognition and classification directly onboard in real time, without connection to ground stations.

How interception works:
• Target search: the drone is equipped with three types of cameras (wide-angle, 4K for long-range viewing, and thermal imaging), which allows it to operate at night, in smoke, and in dust.
• Neutralization: AI confirms target acquisition, after which the drone automatically deploys a net with an area of 12 square meters or more using built-in CO₂ pneumatic net launchers. In one flight, the aircraft can intercept up to two drones, and reloading takes minimal time in field conditions.