Ukrainian Interceptor Drones Now Targeting Shahed UAVs, Says Ukraine’s MoD

Ukraine is gradually increasing the effectiveness of its defense against Russian Shahed kamikaze drones by using domestic interceptor drones as part of a comprehensive system to counter air threats. 

The Gaze reports on this with reference to Ukrinform. 

There is no quick fix against the Shahed. Nevertheless, among the developments are Ukrainian interceptor drones, which began to be developed more than six months ago. "Today, we have the first results: these unmanned systems are already being used to destroy enemy Shaheds and are being scaled up - production is expanding to take into account the growing number of attacks from Russia," said Yuriy Myronenko, head of the Center for Innovation and Development of Defense Technologies at the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. 

It is also important that effective counteraction to air attacks is possible only if the entire arsenal of air defense means is used in a single system. 

"Therefore, other areas are being implemented in parallel: development of radar coverage, strengthening of the anti-aircraft component, deployment of mobile fire groups, and involvement of civil aviation in air defense groups. We also continue to train new specialists and increase the number of combat teams," Myronenko emphasized. 

He adds that a system of air defense is being gradually built that will not only effectively counter attacks, but will adapt to different types of threats while remaining technologically advanced and scalable. 

Following Russia's major attack on Ukraine on July 4, President Zelenskyy said that interceptor drones had proven effective in shooting down many Russian drones. Moreover, he assured that the production of more and more drones is a “clear task”.