Ukraine unveils AI-powered drone designed to intercept Shaheds
Capabilities of the new interceptor drone developed for Ukraine's armed forces (photo: armyinform.com.ua)
Ukrainian company F-Drones has developed the LITAVR interceptor drone, capable of chasing down targets at speeds of up to 350 km/h and destroying them in automatic mode, according to Ukraine's Ministry of Defense.
What is LITAVR?
LITAVR is an interceptor drone designed to destroy aerial targets and engage ground-based objects.
F-Drones develops its own software, electronics, motors, controllers, and flight control systems for the drone, while steadily reducing dependence on Chinese components.
The company began producing drones in 2023. Development of LITAVR started in the fall of 2024. The aircraft was successfully tested and codified in the summer of 2025. Since the fall of 2025, it has been in serial production and supplied to the military.
Specifications: Speed, range, altitude
The stated maximum speed is 350 km/h. Its operational radius is 40 km. A unit of the Unmanned Systems Forces recorded a flight of more than 80 km from the launch point. The maximum altitude is 9 km.
The drone is equipped with daytime and thermal imaging cameras, allowing the operator to switch between them during flight depending on conditions and the time of day.
Navigation is handled by a proprietary non-GPS system. Integration with various radar systems and pilot support is provided through the LARAG software suite.
The key feature of LITAVR is its automatic target acquisition system (Last Mile, or Pixel Lock). It independently identifies a target and guides the drone into attack position. During the final stage, the pilot controls only the speed, while the rest is handled automatically.
The warhead is located in the nose section of the drone and is supplied in two variants:
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An empty container that the unit equips with explosives on-site;
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A ready-made warhead with a NATO code integrated into the system.
LITAVR features a remote-control system. The operator can control the aircraft from hundreds or even thousands of kilometers away from the interception point. If no target is detected, the pilot switches the initiation board to safe mode and returns the drone to base.
Ukrainian interceptor drones have already learned to autonomously shoot down Russian Shahed drones, with the operator only selecting the target while the system independently guides and strikes it.
The technology was developed with the support of the Brave1 defense cluster and has undergone combat testing in the Kharkiv region.
Meanwhile, the global drone market continues to develop rapidly. Earlier reports highlighted the new KF100 Max quadcopter, which aims to compete with DJI. The aircraft features a built-in payload release system and up to 50 minutes of flight time on a single battery.
