Ukraine races to produce drone interceptors as Russia unleashes jet-powered drones
Photo: Mykhailo Fedorov, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Ukraine has technical solutions in place for producing drone interceptors that help shoot down dozens of Russian targets every night. Domestic manufacturers are now working on technologies to counter jet-powered drones, says Mykhailo Fedorov, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine.
"Drone interceptor solutions have been found, and more than one company is involved. The process of scaling up is underway. Initial contracts have been signed, and partners are helping supply the interceptors," Fedorov said during the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome.
According to him, international aid stakeholders are now focused on these contracts.
The Deputy Prime Minister added that the technology behind the interceptors will evolve, as Russia is now deploying jet-powered drones.
"How quickly existing companies can adapt is the question. They're already working on it. But we may also need a separate program to incentivize the development of interceptors. We'll do this with our partners. There's also the sky shield initiative. As part of that, we can jointly search for solutions. The battlefield is changing every day," Fedorov said.
New technology
On July 10 in Rome, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine had developed and successfully tested drone interceptors that can shoot down Shahed drones. Ukraine's defense industry is capable of mass-producing them, but funding is required.
"We'll be able to mass-produce them. We need to speed up funding for these efforts. What matters is that the key has been found by Ukrainians. And by Americans," the President said.
It’s also known that a large-scale Clear Sky project will be launched in Kyiv. It aims to protect against Shahed-type drones using interceptors.
