Ukraine has used a domestically developed interceptor drone for the first time to destroy a Russian “Geran‑3” unmanned aircraft, known internationally as the Iranian Shahed‑238. The downing was confirmed by the STERNENKO Community on Twitter, which supplies interceptor systems to Ukrainian units.
“This is a small but notable milestone. Last night, our soldiers used Ukrainian-made Sting interceptor drones for the first time to shoot down several jet‑powered Shahed UAVs. And it’s a good moment to send a holiday donation to the ‘Shahed Hunter’ project,” the community’s statement reads.
A short time later, the page published a video with the caption: “Exclusive! Two jet‑powered Shaheds shot down last night. Excellent work by the 1129th Bila Tserkva Air Defence Missile Regiment.”
The Sting system was developed by Ukrainian engineers specifically for intercepting unmanned aircraft. According to Defence Blog, it is built as a quadcopter equipped with a forward‑mounted warhead and a stabilized camera in the upper dome. The drone is controlled by an operator using VR goggles, allowing the pilot to visually track and pursue the target in flight. Sting can reach speeds of over 160 km/h and climb to an altitude of roughly 3,000 meters. This performance is sufficient to intercept a fast, low‑observable Shahed‑238 before it reaches areas where it could threaten civilian or energy infrastructure.
The Shahed‑238, which Russia refers to as the “Geran‑3,” is considerably more difficult to neutralize than earlier propeller‑driven variants. Its jet engine, reduced signature, and high closing speed make it a more challenging and more dangerous target. According to Defence Blog, the introduction of this type of drone has pushed Ukraine to accelerate the development of maneuverable, low‑cost interceptor systems designed to supplement conventional air‑defence assets.
Volunteer organisations and military units had been testing the Sting system in combat conditions for several months. Although it had already been used at the front, this incident marks the first confirmed and documented interception of a jet‑powered Shahed‑238, a drone comparable in size to a light aircraft.
In November, Ukrainian forces managed to capture an undamaged Russian‑Iranian Shahed‑3 equipped with a camera, a mesh‑network modem, and various foreign components. The drone uses a Chinese Telefly JT80 turbojet engine, and a total of 45 foreign‑made parts were identified inside, about half of them originating from the United States. This provides valuable insight into its long‑range control architecture and the drone’s resilience against electronic warfare systems.
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Source: united24media
