Ukraine showcases new automated module designed to counter attack drones
Photo: The Saigak armored vehicle (Ukrainian Armor)
Ukrainian defense company Ukrainian Armor has unveiled a prototype of an automated anti-drone module that can automatically detect, track and destroy unmanned aerial vehicles using shotguns. The system is being developed in cooperation with Ukrainian company UNIT, Militarnyi reports.
What is known about the new module
The prototype was presented at the MSPO 2026 international defense exhibition in Kielce, Poland. According to Vladyslav Belbas, CEO of Ukrainian Armor, the system is currently an experimental prototype and has not yet been given a name.
The automated module is equipped with shotguns that fire specialized cartridges loaded with buckshot. Its claimed drone detection range is up to 150 meters. Depending on the configuration, the system can be fitted with three or four cameras providing 360-degree coverage.
Photo: An anti-drone module mounted on an armored vehicle (Militarnyi)
The electro-optical system includes a daylight camera and a thermal imaging channel, while a fast-rotating mechanism allows the weapon to be rapidly aimed at a target.
The developers describe the module as a relatively low-cost automated solution designed to provide close-range protection for armored vehicles against attack drones.
According to Belbas, continuously increasing armor protection can no longer fully solve the problem of defending combat vehicles against drones.
Photo: An anti-drone module mounted on an armored vehicle (Militarnyi)
The unmanned module is one of three approaches Ukrainian Armor is developing to protect armored vehicles from drones. The others involve deploying a protective net and using an explosive element launched toward an incoming drone.
