Syrskyi: Ukraine receives light aircraft to fight Shaheds
Photo: Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi (president.gov.ua)
Ukraine is using light aircraft to combat Russian Shaheds. New projects in this area are being funded by partners, accprding to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, during a meeting with journalists.
"In countering the enemy’s strike drones, the principle of rationality and feasibility is applied for various means of destruction. Since we need to conserve surface-to-air guided missiles, mobile fire groups are prioritized for targeting Shaheds," he said.
According to the Commander-in-Chief, mobile fire groups account for the largest share of destroyed enemy drones. The effectiveness of such groups reaches up to 40%.
Another promising direction in countering Shaheds is the use of light aircraft. Ukraine has such planes and also receives them from partners.
"We have them, and there are new projects funded through financial and material assistance from our foreign partners. This direction will continue to develop. We are receiving modern light aircraft equipped with advanced weapons and navigation systems, which will increase the effectiveness of countering Russian strike drones," Syrskyi said.
Army aviation is also an effective means of fighting Russian drones. It is used daily and takes part in repelling drone attacks.
"We are scaling up this direction. Organized cooperation with partners, primarily Canadian, allows us to obtain modern surveillance and targeting systems, which enhance the combat capabilities of our helicopters," the Commander-in-Chief added.
Ukraine’s air defense
During the full-scale war, Ukraine has significantly increased its air defense capabilities. Modern surface-to-air missile systems such as IRIS-T, NASAMS, and Patriot have been introduced.
As recently reported by the Ministry of Defense, Ukraine has upgraded the Buk missile system, effectively giving it a second life. The S-300 system is also awaiting modernization.
Additionally, amid constant drone attacks, Ukraine is increasing the number of systems to shoot down Shaheds. The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces has ordered an increase in the production of interceptor drones.
Volunteers in Ukraine have also been authorized to help shoot down enemy drones. More details are available in the RBC-Ukraine report.
