German Researchers Develop 40mm Launcher That Fires Steel Chains to Take Down Drones

Researchers at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) have developed a novel anti-drone weapon that fires steel chains to entangle rotor blades. The system uses a 40 mm caliber launcher to propel a 2,000 mm (6.5 ft) chain at 80 m/s. The chain weighs 70 g and has link diameters of 3-4 mm.

Steel chain outperforms textile nets in tests.

In tests, the steel chain outperformed textile nets in initial catapult-based range trials. The researchers note that a falling chain poses less risk of collateral damage than a solid projectile of equal mass. The computational models did not factor in air resistance, and the ring vortex at the muzzle may affect chain spread after firing.

Specifications

• Chain length: 2,000 mm (6.5 ft)
• Chain mass: 70 g
• Chain link diameter: 3-4 mm
• Muzzle velocity: 80 m/s
• Launcher caliber: 40 mm

Germany recorded over 1,000 suspicious drone flights in 2025, highlighting the need for effective countermeasures. The KIT approach offers a low-tech mechanical alternative to lasers or EMP-based systems.

The researchers, including Professor Claus Mattheck, have not confirmed a timeline for further development or deployment. The limitations of the computational model remain an area for future work.