Ukraine and Belgium develop breakthrough missile to destroy jet-powered drones
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A Russian jet-powered drone struck Kyiv's Pivdennyi Bridge on October 2 (Photo: REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko)
Belgium and a Ukrainian defense company are developing 70-mm laser-guided missiles designed to effectively destroy enemy drones, including jet-powered ones, Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken said on Oct. 5.
According to him, the missile will be a versatile and relatively inexpensive alternative to costly air defense missiles.
“This is probably the most effective weapon, and it is also cheaper. ... The missile can be launched from an F-16, from a buggy — from virtually any platform. It is a very inexpensive yet truly high-tech weapon that could become a breakthrough capability,” Francken said.
He said the system is currently undergoing testing.
According to Francken, the project could “significantly strengthen” the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ ability to counter mass attacks by Geran-type drones.
On Sept. 18, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said interceptors designed to counter jet-powered Shahed drones from two companies had successfully passed combat tests. In particular, they destroyed Russian drones traveling at high speeds.
On Sept. 21, it was reported that Ukrainian company Vluchnyk had completed internal testing of its new Zorelit v5 anti-aircraft interceptor drone, designed to counter reconnaissance and attack drones, including jet-powered UAVs.
On Sept. 23, Zelenskyy said in an address to the U.N. General Assembly that Ukrainian forces had successfully tested four new interceptors against jet-powered drones.
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