Ukraine’s Defence Forces have received the country’s first jet-powered drone interceptor, the Alexa Spatium, the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine said.
The ministry described it as a high-speed fixed-wing jet-powered UAV developed by Ukrainian engineers specifically to destroy small airborne, ground and surface targets.
The drone is primarily designed to intercept Russian Geran-3, Geran-4, Geran-5 and Shahed-131 kamikaze UAVs. The system can also be used against reconnaissance drones, helicopters and other targets.
The Alexa Spatium measures approximately 1.5 by 1.7 metres and is launched from a mobile catapult within several minutes. If the drone does not complete its mission, it can return to the launch site and be reused.
The Defence Ministry said the UAV has the following features:
- a powerful turbojet engine;
- a high service ceiling;
- a substantial combat radius;
- a wide flight envelope, from low to medium altitudes;
- flexible combat deployment, using pre-programmed coordinates or direct guidance;
- a choice of warheads, including high-explosive fragmentation, shaped-charge and thermobaric;
- high manoeuvrability in flight;
- fully remote preparation and launch;
- a high maximum speed and low minimum speed to conserve fuel;
- effective search and targeting systems, including television and infrared sensors.
Since the beginning of 2026, the Defence Ministry has codified and approved 413 unmanned aerial systems for use by Ukraine’s Defence Forces. Almost all of them are Ukrainian-made. According to the ministry, more than 30% more UAV systems have been codified so far this year than during the same period in 2025, and more than 73% more than during the same period in 2024.
The list of systems codified since the beginning of 2026 includes:
- aerial reconnaissance systems of balloon, fixed-wing and multirotor types;
- fixed-wing and multirotor strike drones;
- FPV drones;
- bomber UAVs;
- drone interceptors;
- relay drones;
- target drones;
- fibre-optic UAVs;
- front-strike systems;
- deep-strike systems.
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