Facing increasingly intense attacks with Russian drones and the lack of defense systems provided by allies, Ukraine is rapidly developing its own cheap and efficient aerial interceptors.
Russia consistently launches Shahed drones over Ukraine, and international assistance in air defense systems is insufficient. As a result, Ukraine is forced to innovate. „It’s a continuous cycle: one side improves drone technology, the other reacts,” explains Serghei Beskrestnov, a military consultant and head of the Radio Technologies Center organization, quoted by Politico.
In July alone, Russia launched 6,275 Shahed drones, and in the first days of August - over 355, according to Ukrainian Air Force data. The new tactics complicate interception and deplete anti-aircraft missile reserves.
The Ukrainian Solution: Low-Cost Interceptor Drones
"Only aviation and expensive missiles provided by the West remain. But we don't have enough helicopters and planes, and we critically depend on Western deliveries," says Beskrestnov. "It's not rational to consume million-dollar missiles for $50,000 drones," he continues.
As an alternative, Ukraine has created interceptor drones, costing between $1,000 and $5,000 per unit. These are either winged or helicopter-type drones, and are piloted by humans.
How Ukrainian Interceptors Work
The interceptors are equipped with digital communication systems that allow them to reach high altitudes and speeds of around 330 km/h - sufficient to shoot down Shahed drones, which fly at about 200 km/h.
"They need to be faster than the Shahed, find it, catch it, and destroy it," explains Beskrestnov.
According to Rudolf Akopian from the Ukrainian company General Cherry, intercepting with drones is more efficient than using expensive guns or missiles.
"Soon We Will Shoot Down Shahed Drones on a Conveyor Belt"
After ground radars detect the trajectory of an enemy drone, mobile units receive the signal and prepare. Now, some of these units are equipped with interceptor drones.
"The pilot has about 15 minutes to identify, track, and destroy the enemy drone - either by hitting it directly or detonating it nearby, depending on the model," says Beskrestnov.
"It's just a matter of time before we start shooting down Shahed drones en masse," says Akopian.
Target: 1,000 Interceptors per Day
Ukraine already has a strong internal drone industry, noted by allies for its production capacity and innovation. President Zelenski's goal is to produce 1,000 interceptors daily. So far, only four contracts worth 3 billion hryvnias (62 million euros) have been signed, far from the 6 billion dollars needed for the full expansion of the program.
Volunteer organizations provide interceptors to the Ukrainian army for over a year. "State institutions are slower than companies. The quick response of R&D firms gave us an advantage from the beginning of the invasion," says Akopian.
He adds that the state needs to accelerate processes, from importing components to quickly adopting solutions tested on the front lines.
Russia Counters
Interceptor drones are not a universal solution. Russia simultaneously launches drones from the north, east, and south, concentrating them on a single city to overwhelm air defense. "We can't distribute anti-aircraft drones in all regions, forests, cities - we would need thousands of pilots," says Beskrestnov.
Moscow is already adapting its tactics: some Shahed drones have jet engines, making them faster and harder to intercept. "The enemy is not sleeping. They are starting to use difficult maneuvers precisely to confuse our interceptor drones," warns Beskrestnov.