Ukrainian company Wild Hornets — the manufacturer of STING interceptor drones — has received private air defence status from the Ministry of Defence for its anti-Shahed unit, the Night Hornets. The company reported this on Instagram.
The Night Hornets will operate as part of Ukraine’s overall air defence system under the command of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine — in particular, taking part in protecting the skies over Kyiv.
Wild Hornets plans to create its own anti-drone air defence network — it will include remote control centres, a remote drone launch network based on Hornet Vision Ctrl technology, and field positions.
Wild Hornets emphasises that it does not plan to sell an “object protection” service, and that the company will fund the operation of its private air defence from profits from drone sales.
The Night Hornets have been working with the Defence Forces since October 2024 — initially as a training-and-combat line of work linked to the use of interceptor drones. The unit includes Wild Hornets instructors and test pilots, including veterans of the Russo-Ukrainian war with combat experience.
The Night Hornets have downed more than 50 enemy drones, including jet-powered ones. The unit hit most targets using its own remote-control technology for Hornet Vision Ctrl interceptors — and this is the area the company now plans to scale up under its new private air defence status.
As of mid-September 2026, 81 companies have already joined the experimental project to involve the private sector in the air defence system.
In total, 92 enterprises of various ownership forms from different sectors and regions of Ukraine have submitted applications to join the private air defence initiative. These include operators and critical infrastructure enterprises as well as private-sector companies.
The experimental project to involve the private sector in carrying out air defence measures began in late 2025. The project is intended to strengthen protection for employees, production facilities and company sites that are systematically targeted by Russian drones.
The Ministry of Defence has noted that private air defence is a component of Ukraine’s multi-layered airspace protection system. Private air defence groups do not operate independently; they are part of the overall system under the command of the Air Force’s Air Command. As of mid-July, private air defence comprised 51 companies.