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Ukraine Turns to Interceptor Drones as Low-Cost Air Defense Against Russian Attacks
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Ukraine has made significant strides in developing low-cost aerial interceptor drones to counter the increasing threat from Russian drones, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced last month.
With a target of producing 1,000 interceptor drones per day, Ukraine aims to bolster its air defense capabilities and conserve its dwindling stock of air defense missiles, which have been stretched thin by ongoing Russian invasion, Reuters reported on August 4.
In the past two months alone, just one Ukrainian charity supplying interceptor drones claims to have downed approximately 1,500 Russian drones. These drones, primarily used for reconnaissance and bombings, have become a major threat to Ukrainian towns and cities. Interceptors are increasingly seen as a cheaper, more plentiful alternative to traditional air defense missiles, which have been hampered by limited replenishment from Western and Soviet-made systems, Reuters states.
Colonel Serhiy Nonka’s 1,129th air defense regiment, which has been utilizing these interceptors for the past year, claims the drones cost a fraction of what it takes to down a Russian drone using a missile. Nonka reported that the interceptors have successfully reduced the range at which enemy reconnaissance drones can operate behind Ukrainian lines, providing a valuable defense advantage.
While the exact speed of these interceptors is closely guarded, estimates suggest they can reach speeds of over 300 kph (190 mph), Reuters claims.
Interceptors have been used to take down the long-range Shahed drones launched by Russia at Ukrainian cities, sometimes shooting down dozens in a single night.
Drones have evolved from an auxiliary tool into one of the primary means of warfare for both Ukraine and Russia over the past three and a half years. As Ukraine increases the production of interceptor drones, their effectiveness against the enemy’s drones is becoming more evident. However, these interceptors are still no match for fast jet-powered attack drones or incoming missiles, forcing Ukraine to continue innovating to stay ahead of Russian tactics.
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Taras Tymochko of the Come Back Alive charity, which has been supplying interceptors to 90 Ukrainian units, emphasized the growing role of interceptors in the battlefield, with more than 3,000 Russian drones taken down since the project began. The value of the downed Russian drones is estimated at $195 million—over twelve times the cost of the drones and equipment supplied to the Ukrainian forces.
Despite their growing effectiveness, Russia is also ramping up its efforts, developing its own interceptor drones, as evidenced by videos showing interceptions on both sides. This drone warfare will likely continue to evolve rapidly in the coming weeks as both sides invest more in drone technology, Reuters concluded.
Earlier, it was reported that Ukraine collaborated with the private sector and banks to scale drone interceptor programs. The Ukrainian government is progressing in the development of drone interceptors, with three manufacturers securing state contracts and in total, four contracts worth over 71 million dollars have been awarded, Ukrainian Minister of Defense Denys Shmyhal stated.
