Ukraine to close its skies with AI air defense system: WP reveals timeline
Illustrative photo: In six months, Ukraine's skies could be protected by AI-powered air defense systems (Getty Images)
Ukraine will deploy an air defense system using autonomous, AI-guided interceptors within the next few months, The Washington Post reports.
According to the outlet, Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said the country’s airspace will be protected by a new generation of AI-controlled air interceptors.
"We have a clear plan about how to stop Russia in our skies," he said.
As part of the initiative, Ukraine has signed an agreement with the US defense software company Palantir to create an AI Dataroom. The system will use data and imagery collected by Ukraine over four years of war to train artificial intelligence capable of predicting enemy attacks and directing autonomous interceptors to counter them.
The Washington Post notes that if the project proceeds as planned, Ukraine could have the foundation of a nationwide autonomous missile air defense system in place within six months.
"No country in the world has the experience of defending itself against air attacks on the scale Ukraine is facing today. In learning how to counter these attacks, Ukraine is building … the next generation of AI-enabled air defense," Fedorov said.
The outlet adds that Ukraine’s air defense interceptors must be cheaper than the drones and missiles used by Russia and capable of reacting faster than humans across the entire country.
The AI system will be trained to identify Russian aerial targets and accurately engage them. The software will be integrated into domestically produced interceptors.
Protecting Ukraine’s skies
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has issued specific instructions to Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov regarding the work of the Air Force and strengthening the country’s airspace protection.
Zelenskyy recently said that Ukraine previously had several air defense systems without missiles, but the necessary ammunition has since arrived.
At the same time, Ukraine is still unable to independently produce missiles for Western air defense systems. According to the President, Western partners are not yet ready to grant Ukraine licenses to manufacture such missiles.
On Monday, January 19, Zelenskyy said that the approach used by the Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in deploying air defense systems will be updated.
