German defense company Diehl Defence is developing the Sky Sphere counter-drone system with the CICADA effector, which successfully completed testing at the Grafenwoehr training range in 2025.
Ukrinform reports this, citing Diehl Group's 2025 annual report.
The report stated that, in addition to the continued demand for ground-based air defense systems (GBAD), Diehl Defence was seeing a rapid increase in demand among a number of potential customers for counter-unmanned aerial vehicle (Counter-UAS, C-UAS) capabilities. It added that, to meet this demand, the company was currently developing the Sky Sphere counter-UAS system, which includes the CICADA effector and would complement the company's already field-tested defense systems.
The CICADA effector was first presented in full to defense industry specialists at the Enforce Tac exhibition in February 2025. In November, it successfully passed tests at the military training range in Grafenwoehr, Bavaria.
The technical specifications of Sky Sphere and CICADA, their range, and the method used to engage targets are not disclosed in the report. The company also did not specify a timeline for the completion of development, the start of serial production, or possible customers for the system.
