The Air Command “West” of the Ukrainian Air Forces publicly revealed a new domestically developed interceptor drone for the first time. It was initially spotted during a visit by a Belgian delegation to Ukraine, who inspected products manufactured by the Ukrainian defense industry. This drone was specifically created to counter Iranian Shahed-136 kamikaze drones. Russian forces have been using these Iranian drones in large-scale attacks on Ukrainian cities.
The new platform is made of carbon fiber and features a high-thrust engine. It has been designed with considerations for speed, altitude, and endurance. “We are training crews in all necessary skills,” said the head of the unmanned systems deployment coordination group. “We prepare pilots, operators, technicians, and sappers who load the drones with munitions. This is a new direction, a very interesting and promising area where individuals can develop their skills.”
The system is launched using a mobile catapult, and its relative simplicity means that crews do not require specialized training. The statement notes that operators can be trained quickly. “We are expanding the training for interceptor drone crews. We study the experience of effective combat units and master new weapons,” said the head of the unmanned systems deployment coordination group at the Air Command “West.”
The new drone interceptor is already in use by the Ukrainian Unmanned Systems Forces and several brigades of the Ground Forces. According to Ukrainian officials, the project receives partial funding from private developers and volunteer organizations. This serves as another example of civil-military cooperation in Ukraine’s defense innovation efforts.
One of the most notable features of the system is its cost. The estimated price per unit is around \$5,000, which is only a fraction of the cost of Western air defense missile systems like the IRIS-T SLM or Patriot. This price point allows for large-scale deployment, which is crucial as Russia increases production of Shahed-136 drones assembled from kits supplied by Iran.
The Air Force command stated that trained crews are already carrying out combat operations to detect and destroy enemy drones in various regions of Ukraine near the front lines. Their task is to identify and neutralize incoming drones before they can strike civilian infrastructure or industrial sites.
With Russian forces continuously attacking cities and infrastructure using kamikaze drones, Ukraine faces an urgent need for scalable and affordable interception systems.
The military, understandably, have not disclosed full technical details or operational performance of the drone. However, initial tests and combat use appear to confirm its capability to intercept Shahed-class drones at altitudes and speeds beyond the effective range of most short-range air defense systems.
Source: defence-blog
