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Ukraine Introduces ZIRKA Interceptor Drone to Counter Shaheds
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Ukrainian defense companies Vyriy Industries and NOCTIS have unveiled the ZIRKA interceptor drone, specifically engineered to combat strike unmanned aerial vehicles, such as Russian Shahed loitering munitions.
The new interceptor is designed to automatically detect, track, and destroy high-speed aerial threats, according to Babel on June 30.
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The platform can reach a maximum speed of over 340 kilometers per hour and operate at an altitude of up to 6 kilometers. It also maintains a flight endurance of up to 20 minutes with an operational radius extending 30 kilometers from its launch point.
Each interceptor unit costs up to $2,000, which developers describe as the lowest price on the market for an interceptor equipped with automatic detection and terminal guidance capabilities.
The development process was conducted by NOCTIS with investment support and production expertise provided by Vyriy Industries . The design incorporates practical battlefield feedback gathered from drone operations, including data from the Darknode anti-Shahed battalion.
A specialized team of engineers and programmers with extensive field experience in counter-drone defense worked on the project. Within the partnership, NOCTIS handles the interception mechanisms, specialized software, and automation systems, while Vyriy Industries provides funding and structural expertise to scale manufacturing processes.
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"We know what a properly scaled defense company looks like. That is why we invest and share expertise. Because the Ukrainian market needs more strong teams. The more such teams and quality products there are, the higher the chances of winning this technological race," says Vyriy Industries CEO Oleksii Babenko.
The defense partners are already planning the next iteration of the platform. This upcoming version is designated as ZIRKA 2.0.
According to NOCTIS Development Director Oleksii Komlichenko, the future variant will introduce an automated system. This system will guide the interceptor directly into the target detection zone.
Additionally, the drone will feature upgraded thermal imaging optics. These optics are designed to extend the machine vision tracking range to 2 kilometers.
The upcoming version will also integrate refined target acquisition and guidance algorithms, advanced communication systems, and an automatic proximity fuse to detonate the payload near the target.
The introduction of the ZIRKA platform follows the recent codification of the LITAVR drone, reflecting a broader expansion of high-speed, autonomous interceptor technologies within Ukraine’s defense sector.
The Ukrainian Defense Ministry reported that the LITAVR interceptor drone, developed by the Ukrainian company F-Drones, was designed primarily to intercept aerial targets and could reach speeds of up to 350 km/h.
Development began in the fall of 2024, and by the following summer, the drone passed testing, received codification, and entered serial production. Its main feature was an automatic terminal guidance system that tracked targets independently once the operator locked them for engagement.
Equipped with daytime and thermal imaging cameras alongside a navigation system independent of GPS, the drone operated at altitudes of up to 9 kilometers, with one unit recording a flight that extended over 80 kilometers from its launch point.
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