Octopus against Shaheds: Ukraine showcases its latest AI-powered interceptor drone
Photo: Octopus drone (mod.gov.ua)
In Kyiv, a demonstration of the latest version of the Ukrainian interceptor drone Octopus was held for a British delegation led by UK Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, according to the Ministry of Defense.
Drone with an artificial intelligence system
Octopus was developed within the Armed Forces of Ukraine and is equipped with an AI-based control system. The unmanned aerial vehicle is designed to intercept Shahed-type strike drones.
Its effectiveness has already been confirmed during combat use.
Cooperation between the military and manufacturers enables continuous improvement of the platform and helps build a full-fledged R&D ecosystem in the field of military technologies.
The Octopus drone was developed within the Armed Forces of Ukraine and is equipped with an AI-based control system (https://mod.gov.ua/news/predstavniki-britanskogo-uryadu-oznajomilis-z-najnovishoyu-versiyeyu-drona-octopus)
Production in Ukraine and the United Kingdom
Production of the Octopus drone is being established both in Ukraine and the United Kingdom. The transfer of technology to British enterprises became possible thanks to a reform in the field of intellectual property by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
In May 2025, the Ministry of Defense established a specialized Intellectual Property Department, which ensured:
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Legal protection of the technology in Ukraine;
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Filing an application for international patent registration;
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Support for the licensing agreement with the UK Ministry of Defense.
Licensing agreement and production scaling
In November 2025, the Ministries of Defense of Ukraine and the United Kingdom signed a licensing agreement for the Octopus interceptor drone. The document paved the way for the serial production of the UAV in the United Kingdom.
Production volumes are expected to reach several thousand drones per month. The manufactured interceptors will be transferred to Ukraine to strengthen airspace protection.
This is the first agreement by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine on licensing technologies that are state-owned. The precedent opens up new opportunities for bilateral exchange of defense technologies with partner countries.
Octopus interceptor drone
The Ukrainian Octopus interceptor drone was created to counter Shahed-type strike UAVs and other aerial targets.
The project was implemented by Ukrainian military engineers with the support of specialists from the United Kingdom. Development lasted nearly two years and involved engineering units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, and international partners.
In October 2025, the drone was presented by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer during a meeting in London.
In late November, Ukraine and the United Kingdom signed an agreement under which production of the interceptor drones was launched on British territory.
