The first Ukrainian jet-powered interceptor drones designed to counter jet-powered Shaheds are undergoing combat testing.
Former Ukrainian Defence Minister Mykhaylo Fedorov reported this.
“Today we are seeing a trend: the Russians are gradually replacing conventional Shaheds with jet-powered ones. This is a change in the strategy of the war in the air. Our response must be swift so that we can continue to outpace Russia in every technological cycle,” he said.
Fedorov recalled that last year Kyiv began systematically developing interceptor drones, including by opening up the market, conducting combat testing and increasing procurement.
“Today, Ukraine has one of the world’s most advanced ‘small’ air defence systems, whose experience is being studied by other armies,” the former minister added.
According to him, the current task is to increase efforts tenfold to counter the threat posed by jet-powered drones as quickly as possible.
“Over the past year, our team has awarded grants to manufacturers through Brave1, analysed solutions and helped with testing. Today, several Ukrainian manufacturers already have such solutions,” Fedorov said.
He added that he had recently visited a company that was among the first in Ukraine to develop a jet-powered interceptor drone capable of reaching speeds of more than 600 km/h. The system is now undergoing combat testing.