Ukraine has successfully conducted tests of a German-built interceptor drone designed to counter reconnaissance UAVs and the notorious Iranian-designed Shahed drones.
The announcement came from Brave1, a defense-tech collaboration platform launched by the Ukrainian government in 2023.
In a statement on its official Facebook page, Brave1 revealed that Ukrainian operators tested the drone and confirmed its effectiveness in addressing the modern challenges of war.
While specific technical details remain undisclosed, the interceptor is reported to achieve speeds of up to 300 kilometers per hour and operate within a range of 20 kilometers.
It was tested under the supervision of representatives from the Ukrainian Defense Forces, who commended its performance. The manufacturer plans to equip the drone with an automatic targeting system based on machine vision.
An interceptor drone from the German company TYTAN Technologies during testing in Ukraine. The drone is using AI for aiming and is capable of reaching speeds of 300 km/h and covering a distance of 20 kilometers. pic.twitter.com/NCQ8JOczMD
— 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝕯𝔢𝔞𝔡 𝕯𝔦𝔰𝔱𝔯𝔦𝔠𝔱△ 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇺🇲🇬🇷 (@TheDeadDistrict) December 29, 2024
Although Brave1 did not disclose the manufacturer’s name, open-source intelligence suggests TYTAN Technologies, a German defense firm, developed the drone.
The announcement follows a growing trend of international partnerships aimed at bolstering Ukraine’s defense capabilities.
Brave1 also highlighted its ongoing efforts to build partnerships between international developers and Ukrainian innovators.
“We continue to work towards building partnerships with international developers whose solutions and technologies can help Ukraine win this war,” Brave1 stated.
In November, American companies IronNet and Asterion Systems conducted tests in Ukraine for their Hitchhiker interceptor drone.
The Hitchhiker, also built to tackle UAV threats like Shahed drones, features a range of 200 kilometers and a maximum speed of 450 kilometers per hour.
The Hitchhiker is a versatile platform, capable of launching from stationary or mobile setups, providing greater operational flexibility. It also incorporates cybersecurity tools, expanding its ability to counter sophisticated drone threats.
The manufacturers have further announced plans to develop a jet-powered version to improve its ability to intercept faster aerial targets.
Ukraine’s Push For Interceptor Drones To Combat Shahed UAVs
As Russia’s war in Ukraine drags on, the Iranian-designed Shahed one-way attack drones, now produced domestically in Russia as the Geran 2, have become a central element of Moscow’s offensive strategy.
These low-cost yet highly effective unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have caused substantial damage to Ukraine’s critical infrastructure, particularly its power grid.
The Shahed 136, designed by Iran, is a small yet potent weapon in Russia’s arsenal. With a seven-foot wingspan and a warhead weighing up to 100 pounds, the drone can travel up to 600 miles, delivering devastating payloads to critical Ukrainian infrastructure.
Its piston-driven engine propels it at speeds of around 115 mph, earning it the nickname “moped” or “lawnmower.”
The Shahed costs only around US$20,000 per unit, yet its effectiveness as a loitering munition has made it a major threat, as demonstrated by the ongoing waves of drone attacks that have damaged or destroyed over three-quarters of Ukraine’s electricity infrastructure.
That said, Ukraine has made progress in countering Shahed drones, with its defense systems reportedly intercepting up to 95% of incoming attacks by November 2024.
This success has been driven by a combination of advanced multispectrum sensors and effective tactics, along with increasing reliance on electronic warfare, such as jamming and signal disruption.
Yet, the costs of defending against these drones with conventional air defense systems remain prohibitively high, and the current countermeasures, including old German-supplied Gepard anti-aircraft cannons, are hindered by shortages of essential munitions, such as the Swiss-made 35mm airburst rounds.
For example, a single missile from the US-supplied NASAMS system costs around US$1 million—far more than the Shahed itself.
The disparity in cost has led Ukraine to seek alternative, more cost-effective methods of defense, particularly through the development of interceptor drones that can target and neutralize the Shaheds at a fraction of the cost.
In early 2024, Ukrainian officials called for developers to design and produce interceptor drones capable of intercepting Shaheds. The minimum specifications outlined in the request include a flight speed of at least 60 miles per hour and an operational altitude of 5,000 feet.
These interceptor drones would ideally provide a low-cost, efficient way to neutralize Shahed drones without relying on expensive missile systems or traditional air defense hardware.
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