Ukraine’s New Drone Hunter Is Here—And Shaheds Are Getting Wiped Out

Ukraine has officially approved a new domestically developed unmanned aerial system, known as Shvidun, for use by its armed forces, marking another step in the country’s rapidly evolving air defense ecosystem.

The system was codified and cleared for operational use by the Ministry of Defense, which shared details about the platform on March 31.

According to the ministry, Shvidun was specifically designed to intercept and destroy enemy strike and reconnaissance drones, including widely used models such as Shahed-136, Gerbera, Geran, Supercam, Zala, and Skat.

Built from durable composite materials, the interceptor drone weighs roughly 8 kilograms and features a wingspan of about two meters. It can reach altitudes of up to 6 kilometers and exceed speeds of 250 kilometers per hour.

With an operational range of more than 70 kilometers, Shvidun can provide aerial coverage over Ukrainian cities, helping defend against incoming drone threats.

The drone incorporates advanced engineering solutions that eliminate structural vibrations at high speeds, ensuring a stable and clear image feed for operators during interception missions.

Officials also highlighted the system’s relatively low takeoff and landing speeds, despite its high maximum velocity. This allows the drone to be safely recovered if a target is lost and redeployed for future missions. It can remain airborne for more than two hours.

Initial units are already carrying out combat missions, actively protecting Ukrainian cities from aerial attacks.

“Currently, the Shvidun unmanned system demonstrates one of the highest success rates in intercepting enemy Shahed drones among Ukrainian-made interceptor UAVs,” the ministry said.

According to the statement, nearly 100 enemy drones have already been destroyed using the system.

Ukraine is also helping the US to enhance its drone tech. Earlier, Ukrainian drone manufacturer General Chereshnya and US-based Wilcox Industries agreed to establish a joint venture in the United States to produce FPV and interceptor drones.

The partnership will focus on launching localized production in the US, with priority given to supplying the American defense market and fulfilling Pentagon contracts, while also considering exports to other countries.

General Chereshnya said the cooperation will combine Ukrainian battlefield experience with US engineering capabilities.

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