Rheinmetall AERIE Prototype Fits 20+ Drone Interceptors in a Container

Rheinmetall Defence Australia and Praetorian Aeronautics have unveiled AERIE, a containerised counter-drone prototype combining Arrow interceptors with the Hadrian artificial-intelligence command-and-control system. Developed in twelve months, the launcher holds more than twenty interceptors within a standard twenty-foot container and is designed for transport by road, rail or ship. Its self-contained architecture can accommodate different interceptor types, while full demonstrations with operators are scheduled for the final quarter of 2026. The unveiling establishes a deployable prototype concept rather than a fielded acquisition, with no announced customer order, engagement range, unit cost or independently demonstrated interception rate.