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Ukraine Builds Multi-Layer Air Defense Shield—Not a Copy of Iron Dome
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Ukraine is assuming the development of its own air defense system, a similar but not exact copy of Israel’s Iron Dome, as part of a broader multilayered shield designed to protect the country’s skies from missile strikes and drone attacks.
The statement was issued by Pavlo Yelizarov, deputy commander of the Air Force, according to 24tv on March 12.
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“It is about creating a system that will effectively counter various types of aerial threats, from drones to missiles. This will be a multilayered protection of the sky,” Yelizarov remarked.
He briefly described that the project is not a copy of the Israeli system. He explained it as a broader shield tailored to Ukraine’s battlefield conditions and designed to protect against Russian missiles and drones.
“Russia tries to launch drones and missiles in large waves to overwhelm Ukraine’s air defenses, which is why new technological solutions are needed to ensure a rapid response to such attacks,” Pavlo Yelizarov noted.
The future system should combine various tools, including radars, anti-aircraft missiles, and electronic warfare systems, to respond more effectively to mass attacks.
He stressed that Ukraine already has groundwork and practical experience in air defense, much of it gained and applied during the war.
No technical details, timeline, or production plans were provided, and Ukrainian officials have not disclosed what capabilities such a system could include or when it might be developed.
Experts note that while Israel’s Iron Dome is effective, Ukraine needs a far larger system because its territory is much bigger.
That is why Ukrainian officials are not discussing a direct copy of the technology, but rather a domestic, multilayered air defense system tailored to the country's scale and the realities of modern war.
On the same matter, Belgium will launch domestic production of drones and counter-drone systems in partnership with Ukraine’s defense industry, with Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken announcing the plan on March 11.
Francken said Ukrainian technology would enable manufacturing facilities inside Belgium, covering both unmanned aerial vehicles and systems designed to intercept them as Belgium seeks to close gaps in its own military stocks.
The Belgian government plans to sign a contract with a Ukrainian company to formalize the cooperation, as Francken said, Belgium has bought and invested more than before, but still needs much more.
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