Russia is trying to speed up jet-powered Shahed drones, expert warns
Photo: jet-powered interceptor (Ministry of Defense)
Quadrocopter-type interceptor drones serve as the first line of defense, while solutions to counter all types of aerial targets, including cruise missiles, must be developed in parallel. The cost of such a missile should not exceed $50,000, aviation expert Anatolii Khrapchynskyi said.
Two layers of defense
According to Khrapchynskyi, the first layer of air defense is a solution that helps protect against the threat right now. FPV-type interceptor drones have become such a solution.
The second layer is a strategic solution that will allow Ukraine to counter future iterations of air-attack upgrades.
The expert explained that Russia is trying to increase the speed of its drones. Interceptors currently being developed are designed for Shaheds traveling at speeds of up to 500 km/h, but at 800 km/h, he said, a different airframe design, different aerodynamics and a different reaction time would be required, making automation essential.
Khrapchynskyi believes Ukraine will eventually develop a tactical air defense system using a cruise missile costing no more than $50,000. This would require an infrared or radar guidance seeker, as Chinese optics would not be sufficient. He called for cooperation with Europe, which, he said, has advanced seeker technology, as well as technology transfers.
The expert also believes Ukraine could significantly reduce the cost of European technologies and suggested that this is what Europe fears. According to him, Russia buys jet engines from China or Iran, while Ukraine has Motor Sich and Ivchenko-Progres, whose engines were used in Russia’s Kh-55 missiles.
According to Khrapchynskyi, the main challenge will be scaling up production. Among state-backed solutions, he cited the upgraded Koral missile developed by Ukroboronprom, which already has two guidance seekers but requires scaling up, which is more expensive.
The Ukrainian Council of Arms Manufacturers believes the technical barrier to countering jet-powered Geran drones has been overcome, but does not expect mass shootdowns of these drones within a month. In August, the Ministry of Defense announced that the Defense Forces had received the first Ukrainian-made jet-powered interceptor, Alexa Spatium.
Russia is moving toward wider use of jet-powered drones to offset the declining effectiveness of conventional Shaheds.
