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Ukraine Unveils P1-SUN Jetkiller, Built to Hunt Russia’s Jet-Powered Shaheds
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Ukrainian drone manufacturer SkyFall has introduced a new high-speed interceptor drone designed to engage Russia’s emerging jet-powered Shahed attack drones, which are increasingly being used in strikes against Ukraine.
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The new interceptor, dubbed P1-SUN Jetkiller, was unveiled at the Farnborough International Airshow in the United Kingdom. According to Reuters on July 21, the upgraded drone has already undergone combat testing and has reportedly destroyed more than a dozen jet-powered Shahed drones.
Russia has begun deploying new versions of its Shahed attack drones equipped with jet engines instead of conventional propellers, allowing them to reach speeds of up to 500 km/h. According to Reuters, the higher speed significantly reduces the time available for Ukrainian air defenses to detect and intercept incoming targets.
Speaking to Reuters, Yurii Cherevashenko, a senior commander in Ukraine’s Air Force, said that 15% to 20% of the Shahed drones currently used by Russia are already equipped with jet engines.
To address this evolving threat, SkyFall developed the P1-SUN Jetkiller, an upgraded version of its existing P1-SUN interceptor. According to Reuters, the new model reaches a top speed of 370 km/h, compared with 310 km/h for the standard version.
A company representative told Reuters that development of the new interceptor began about three months ago. The drone has since completed combat trials, during which it reportedly shot down more than a dozen jet-powered Shahed drones. SkyFall plans to begin serial production in August 2026.
Reuters also reported that the original P1-SUN, introduced in November 2025, has destroyed more than 5,500 Russian drones. The company says its production capacity is currently up to 50,000 interceptor drones per month.
The growing challenge posed by low-cost attack drones was a major focus at this year’s Farnborough Airshow. According to Reuters, several companies showcased new counter-drone systems, including European missile manufacturer MBDA and US defense company Lockheed Martin.
Other Ukrainian developers are also accelerating work on faster interceptor drones. Reuters reported that General Cherry is finalizing a high-speed version of its Bullet interceptor capable of exceeding 400 km/h, with a long-term goal of reaching 500 km/h.
Earlier this month, British-Ukrainian company Firebolt Engineering announced the first confirmed combat interception of a Russian Shahed drone using its Griffen jet-powered interceptor. Designed to counter faster attack drones at a lower cost than conventional air defense missiles, Griffen can exceed 350 km/h and is now entering expanded production.
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