The Ukrainian Air Force has showcased an unmanned aerial system (UAS) built to intercept Iranian-designed Shahed drones widely used by Russia.
The first-person view drone launches from a mobile catapult with a simplified setup, enabling quick deployment even for troops with minimal drone training.
It sports a fixed-wing airframe, a carbon fiber shell, and a propulsion system tuned for long-range and high-altitude flights.
Performance details and hit rates of the new homegrown drone have not been disclosed yet.
‘A New Direction’
The drone reportedly costs $5,000 and is already flying in zones where Shaheds are most frequently spotted.
Leading the effort is Ukraine’s Air Command West, based in Lviv, which is also running hands-on training for pilots, drone operators, mechanics, and sappers who load the drones with explosives.
While the military coordinates deployment and training, production itself isn’t backed by the state. It is funded by private donors and volunteer groups working to get the systems out faster.
“Right now, our trained crews are carrying out combat operations to identify and destroy enemy drones in various regions of our country in areas close to the frontline of combat,” the West Air Command’s Drone Coordination Group said in its announcement.
“This is a new direction, a very interesting and promising job where you can express yourself.”
Ukraine’s Growing Anti-Shahed Arsenal
Shahed drones have become one of Russia’s most frustrating tools: cheap, erratic, and tough to track.
But Ukraine’s playbook for dealing with them keeps growing.
Last June, engineers in Kyiv built an AI-controlled turret that can spot and shoot down Shaheds and other low-flying threats.
A few months earlier, the Ukrainian military commissioned the “Seth” UAS, which has a composition similar to the Russian loitering munition.
And Ukraine is not going it alone. Estonia launched its own project in 2024 to test a new anti-air missile that could help defend against Shaheds and similar attacks.
