New weapon against Shaheds: What is known about Thales mini-missile Ukraine uses to shoot down drones

What is known about the missile

According to the manufacturer, a new FZ123 warhead was developed for the compact 70 mm missile. It is filled with thousands of tiny steel pellets that scatter in all directions when the nearly one-kilogram charge explodes.

The strike radius during an explosion reaches up to 25 meters in diameter, which is enough to destroy a drone. These pellets can also hit drones from a greater distance, as the missile operates like a shotgun. The maximum range of the missile with this warhead is up to 3 km.

Thales Belgium's Director of Vehicles and Tactical Systems, Thomas Colinet, said the new system is already being deployed in Ukraine, and demand from Kyiv now exceeds the company’s production capacity.

"The good thing for us is, if they are asking for more, it means they are happy with it," Colinet said, declining to disclose the scale of deliveries.

How much do the missiles cost

A Thales representative did not reveal the cost of the anti-air mini-missiles already supplied to Ukraine. He noted that these missiles are more expensive than Ukrainian drones used to destroy Shaheds, but significantly cheaper than standard anti-air missiles in service with Western armies.

Thales Belgium clarified that even the most expensive laser-guided models of their mini-missiles typically cost about one-fifth the price of a conventional missile. According to Business Insider, the cheapest AIM-7 Sparrow anti-air missiles, which can be launched from F-16 fighter jets, cost around $125,000 per unit.

Earlier, Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Pavlo Palisa stated that Ukraine already has interceptor drones capable of countering Russia's jet-powered Shaheds.