Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence has codified and authorised for service with the Defence Forces the Skazhenyy (Mad) interceptor drone, equipped with a terminal guidance system. This was reported by the Militarnyy outlet, citing company data.
According to the manufacturers, the drone range was initially developed as an integrated system. It currently includes seven variants of Skazhenyy — day and night modifications, as well as versions with terminal guidance, analogue and digital cameras. Each configuration comes with its own corresponding equipment kit.
Externally, Skazhenyy has a design typical of interceptor drones in this class. At the same time, the manufacturer highlights a distinctive feature of its layout: the battery runs through the load-bearing frame, meaning the centre of mass sits directly at the centre of the structure. This allows the drone not to pitch its nose up during level flight. The company says this solution has had a positive impact on the drone’s handling.
According to the developers, the interceptor can reach speeds of up to 340 km/h and climb to an altitude of up to 7,000 metres. Its maximum flight endurance is up to 15 minutes, and its payload is 500 grams.
The terminal guidance system has already undergone testing. The first drones with this equipment have been delivered to units in Odesa and Zaporizhzhya Regions. Other modifications of the interceptor are planned to be delivered to units operating near the line of contact. There, they will be used to counter reconnaissance and strike drones.
At the same time, the UV Military Cluster association of defence manufacturers noted that this version is not currently being considered as a means of intercepting jet-powered drones. The manufacturer explained that it has not yet been possible to use Skazhenyy with terminal guidance in real-world conditions, as recently Odesa region has been seeing mainly jet-powered Shaheds, whose maximum speed is 500–600 km/h.
The manufacturer has also already conducted initial tests of remote control — making it possible to operate the drone from anywhere.
At the request of the Ukrainian Navy, the Skazhenyy design is also being made modular. Replacing the lower section makes it possible to change the communications system, while replacing the front section allows a different video system to be installed.
UV Military Cluster added that foreign customers have already shown interest in Ukrainian interceptor drones. The parties are currently agreeing the terms of the first contract.
In addition, earlier versions of ‘Skazhenyi’ are already available on the Brave1 marketplace. The manufacturer adds that it is capable of producing around 5,000 drones per month.
As of July, since the start of 2026 the Ministry of Defence has codified and authorised for use in Ukraine’s Defence Forces 413 unmanned aerial systems. Almost all of the equipment is Ukrainian-made. The defence ministry said that more than 30% more unmanned aerial systems have been codified so far than in the same period of 2025, and more than 73% more than in the same period of 2024.
The list of systems codified since the start of 2026 includes:
- aerial reconnaissance platforms of aerostat, fixed-wing and multicopter types;
- strike drones of fixed-wing and multicopter types;
- FPV;
- unmanned bomber systems;
- interceptor drones;
- relay drones;
- target drones;
- fibre-optic unmanned aerial systems;
- front-strike;
- deep-strike.