Ukrainian Interceptor Drones Redefine Modern Warfare – Business Insider

Ukraine has developed a new generation of low-cost interceptor drones that are reshaping modern air defense and redefining the dynamics of the war with Russia.
The Gaze reports this, referring to Business Insider.
Initially dismissed by soldiers as unrealistic, the project, which involves using small quadcopters to intercept and destroy enemy drones, has become a central element of Ukraine’s response to Russia’s large-scale aerial attacks.
According to the report, Ukrainian-made interceptors recently shot down more than 150 Russian drones during a single mass assault. The government now aims to expand production to 1,000 units per day, highlighting the strategic importance of affordable, scalable drone technology in sustained conflict.
Analysts say the use of “drone-on-drone” interception represents a breakthrough in cost-effective air defense. Each Ukrainian-built interceptor costs only a fraction of a traditional surface-to-air missile, allowing Ukrainian forces to respond proportionally to Russia’s frequent drone strikes.
“What once seemed laughable has since become a low-cost and critical pillar of Ukraine's defense. The ripples of this technological breakthrough extend beyond Ukraine, showing how future wars involving mass drone attacks can be fought with cheap defenses,” the publication said.
NATO has taken note of Ukraine’s advancements. Admiral Pierre Vandier, NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, described “kamikaze-style” interceptors as among the most promising defensive technologies against Russia’s ongoing drone threat.
Sam Bendett, an adviser at the U.S. Center for Naval Analyses, said both Ukraine and Russia are increasingly relying on simple, inexpensive means to respond to the escalating use of unmanned systems.
“As the number of aerial drone threats grew, so did the pressure on the defenders on both sides to use counters that are relatively cheap and simple,” he told Business Insider.
Ukraine’s defense industry is also partnering with international allies to strengthen its technological base. This autumn, the United Kingdom and Ukraine announced a joint initiative to co-develop and produce advanced military technologies, including unmanned systems, aimed at bolstering both countries’ security and industrial capacity.
In parallel, Ukrainian firms are developing specialized drones designed to intercept Russia’s guided aerial bombs – one of the most destructive weapons currently used against Ukrainian cities.
Military experts say Ukraine’s drone interceptors are reshaping how nations think about air defense, proving that technological innovation can offset asymmetries in scale and resources.
As The Gaze previously reported, Ukrainian Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal said that Ukraine is becoming one of the most promising markets for investment in the defense industry.