Ukraine races to counter Russia’s jet Shaheds with a 600-kph interceptor
Ukraine tests interceptor drones against jet-powered Shaheds (Photo: Mykhailo Fedorov / Telegram)
Ukraine has begun combat trials of its first jet-powered
interceptor drones, which can exceed 600 kilometers per hour and are designed
to take down Russian jet-powered Shaheds, former Ukrainian Defense Minister
Mykhailo Fedorov said on Aug. 14.
“Today, we are seeing a trend: The Russians are gradually
replacing conventional Shaheds with jet-powered versions. That marks a shift in
air-war strategy. We have to respond quickly so we can keep beating Russia in
every new technology cycle,” he said.
Ukraine began a coordinated effort to develop interceptor
drones last year, Fedorov said. That push included opening up the market,
conducting combat trials and increasing procurement.
Those efforts have helped Ukraine build one of the world’s
most advanced short-range air defense systems, he said. Other countries are
already studying Ukraine’s experience.
Ukraine must now move much faster and sharply expand its
effort to counter jet-powered drones, Fedorov said. Over the past year, his
team has used Brave1 to provide manufacturers with grants, evaluate their
designs and help test them. Several Ukrainian companies now have their own
systems for confronting the new threat.
Fedorov said he recently visited one of those production
sites, where the Ukrainian team was among the first to develop a jet-powered
interceptor capable of topping 600 kilometers per hour.
The drone is now being tested in combat. Its developers are
awaiting the results, including the first confirmed shootdowns of enemy
targets.
“We can’t let up. We need to invest in R&D, testing and
scaling production. Our team continues to take a systematic approach. Defending
Ukraine’s skies remains one of the key elements of our wartime strategy,”
Fedorov added.
A July 21 report detailed the P1-SUN JetKiller, a high-speed
interceptor unveiled by Ukrainian company SkyFall to counter jet-powered
Shaheds. It can reach speeds of up to 370 kilometers per hour and operate at
altitudes of up to 9 kilometers. Its AI-powered guidance system can
automatically detect, track and lock onto targets.
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