Slovakia Unveils Wolf 25 AD, a Drone-Killing Air Defense System Designed for Ukraine

Slovak defense company DefTech has released footage of live-fire tests of its new anti-aircraft artillery system, the Wolf 25 AD, developed specifically at Ukraine’s request.

According to the developer, the tests took place in spring 2025 at the Záhorie military training ground in Slovakia.

A video released with the defense blog “Praise the Steph” shows the system successfully targeting and striking a small drone hovering approximately 400 meters away.

The drone was neutralized with a short burst of seven training rounds—without the use of proximity-fuzed or programmable ammunition.

The company confirmed that two prototypes have already been delivered to Ukraine, where they are undergoing local testing. Following the trials, DefTech anticipates a formal procurement decision and the launch of serial production.

While no official numbers have been disclosed, initial estimates from industry sources suggest that potential Ukrainian orders may reach into the hundreds.

Technical overview

The Wolf 25 AD is equipped with the Valhalla Turrets system from Slovenia, which includes a 25×137 mm Oerlikon KBA automatic cannon. The system is capable of switching between different firing modes, with a maximum rate of fire of 650 rounds per minute. It can use multiple types of ammunition depending on the mission profile, including:

• Proximity-fuzed high-explosive rounds (PX-HE) for anti-aircraft use, detonating within 1.5 meters of the target.

• High-explosive incendiary rounds with tracer (HEI-T), semi-armour-piercing high-explosive (SAPHE), frangible armour-piercing discarding sabot (FAPDS-T), and armour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot rounds, which are optimized for engaging high-speed or armored targets.

According to the manufacturer, the 25×137 mm caliber was chosen for its balance of firepower, logistical efficiency, and availability. It delivers near-comparable effectiveness to the larger 30×173 mm round, while offering higher ammunition capacity, lower weight, and broader supply availability.

Integrated radar and optics

The turret features the Lotus Lite electro-optical system, incorporating thermal imaging and day cameras. The primary detection capability is provided by four AESA AMMR radar panels, offering full 360-degree coverage. These software-defined radars are capable of tracking up to 150 aerial targets simultaneously, with detection ranges as follows:

• Fighter jets: up to 20 km

• Helicopters: up to 12 km

• Missiles: up to 10 km

• Lancet-type drones: 8–10 km

• Reconnaissance UAVs: up to 5 km

• Small FPV or commercial drones: up to 5 km

AMMR radars are also used in Rheinmetall’s Skynex and Skyranger platforms and are capable of detecting artillery and mortar fire trajectories in real time.

To enhance operational resilience, the radar system is equipped with advanced electronic counter-countermeasures, allowing it to operate in environments affected by electronic warfare. The Wolf 25 AD can also perform on-the-move target acquisition, enabling it to provide mobile air defense cover for vehicle convoys.

With Ukraine facing persistent threats from a wide range of aerial platforms—including drones, missiles, and low-flying aircraft—systems like the Wolf 25 AD represent a tactical response to evolving battlefield needs.

The combination of mobility, radar integration, and multi-role ammunition offers Ukraine the potential for a scalable, domestically-operating point-defense system suited for both static and mobile defense tasks.

Earlier, Ukraine approved the deployment of the domestically produced “Varta-2” armored vehicle, developed by Ukrainian Armor. The MRAP-class vehicle features upgraded protection, a 30mm remote weapon option, and is built on a Turkish chassis to avoid supply issues tied to Belarus.

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