Fedorov and Yelizarov develop new interceptor drone that has already downed two jet-powered Shaheds
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Only a month elapsed between the start of the interceptor's development and the first confirmed shoot-downs (Photo: FEDOROV / Telegram / Screenshot)
Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said that a new interceptor drone developed with military personnel and engineers had already shot down two Russian Geran-5 jet-powered drones heading toward Kyiv on Oct. 12.
According to Fedorov, just one month passed between the start of development and the first confirmed interceptions. He said combat testing was conducted by crews from Lasar's Group, a special operations unit of Ukraine's National Guard.
The former defense minister said the interceptor's speed allows it to shoot down jet-powered Shahed drones before they reach cities.
“Testing is progressing successfully, and this is just the beginning. We are now improving the technology and increasing production. The goal is to make the interceptor fully autonomous so it can detect and intercept Russian drones without an operator,” Fedorov said.
He said the next step is to expand the drone's combat deployment to protect more Ukrainian cities. According to Fedorov, the jet-powered interceptor is just one of several projects.
The former defense minister said he and his team continue to work in Ukraine, but now in the private sector. He said they are bringing together leading Ukrainian engineers, military expertise and resources.
Fedorov said the team is already developing a range of new products and technologies to protect Ukrainian airspace and support troops on the front line.
“Our mission remains unchanged: to win the war for independence and save lives. We are creating technologies and asymmetric solutions that give us an advantage over the enemy,” Fedorov stressed.
Countering Russian jet-powered drones
On Sept. 23, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during his address to the U.N. General Assembly that Ukrainian forces had successfully tested four new interceptors against jet-powered drones.
On Sept. 28, Zelenskyy said Ukraine's air defenses were intercepting about 70% of drones during large-scale Russian attacks, while the interception rate for jet-powered drones stood at 57%.
On Sept. 29, Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine had identified its first weapon prototypes designed to shoot down jet-powered Shahed drones.
On Oct. 4, the president said at least 12 .50-caliber gun turrets had already been installed in Kyiv to counter jet-powered drones, with another eight planned for deployment in Kyiv Oblast.
Serhiy "Flash" Beskrestnov, Zelenskyy's adviser on defense technology development, later said the turrets were an innovative Ukrainian solution that uses AI-controlled machine guns to shoot down Shahed drones.
The following day, Yuriy Ihnat, head of communications for the Ukrainian Air Force Command, said Ukraine's air defenses were already using AI-powered robotic turrets to shoot down Russian jet-powered drones, including the Geran-5.
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