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Ukraine Deploys AI-Powered “Khyzhak” Turret to Counter Fiber-Optic Drones on Front Line
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Ukraine’s defense innovation platform Brave1 unveiled a new AI-powered anti-drone turret called “Khyzhak,” (transl. “Predator”) designed to counter Russian UAVs, including fiber-optic FPV drones that are resistant to electronic warfare.
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According to Brave1 on May 9, the compact turret system can independently detect enemy drones, track their movement, and calculate interception trajectories. The operator only needs to confirm the strike with a single command.
The system was developed in cooperation with Ukrainian military units and has already been deployed in combat by fighters from the K-2 Brigade.
👀 Ukraine is deploying AI-powered anti-drone turrets to counter the growing range of Russian UAV threats, from FPV drones to Shaheds.
— UNITED24 Media (@United24media) May 9, 2026
Already used in combat by Brigade K-2, the turrets are now protecting more than 10 units on key front-line sectors. pic.twitter.com/ptlCYA9ld0
In footage released by Brave1, the turret is shown tracking aerial targets through an automated targeting interface before engaging them during real combat operations. The video states that the footage was recorded during actual combat missions conducted by the K-2 Brigade, not during testing.
The developers say the system is intended to counter multiple classes of Russian drones, including FPV drones, Molniya UAVs, Shahed-type attack drones, and fiber-optic drones, which are considered difficult to jam using traditional electronic warfare systems.
The video also describes kinetic interception as “one of the few ways to counter fiber-optic drones.”
According to Brave1, the turret completed its development cycle—from concept to battlefield deployment—in a short timeframe due to close coordination between developers and frontline troops.
The systems are currently protecting more than 10 Ukrainian military units across key front-line directions, Brave1 said.
Earlier, Ukraine’s Defense Ministry announced plans to procure 25,000 ground robotic systems in the first half of 2026 as part of a broader effort to automate frontline logistics, evacuation, demining, and combat operations. According to Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukrainian robotic systems carried out more than 21,500 battlefield missions during the first quarter of the year.
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-72b63a4e0c8c475ad81fe3eed3f63729.jpeg "Photo of Cyril Barabaltchouk")
-29a1a43aba23f9bb779a1ac8b98d2121.jpeg "Photo of Illia Kabachynskyi")
-e99e7a3d5a4f6128bcd598e76c2f1974.png "A Russian Iranian-designed Shahed drone spotted flying above a town of Călărași in central Moldova. (Source: open source)")
