Ukraine unveils new interceptor that catches FPV drones with net
FPV drone (photo: Getty Images)
Ukrainian defense company Phantom Defence unveiled its Mangal FPV drone interceptor for the first time at the IT Arena conference in Lviv. The system fires a weighted net and can carry six charges, according to dev.ua.
What is known about Mangal
Ukrainian company Phantom Defence first unveiled the system at the annual IT Arena technology conference in Lviv. The system was designed to provide air defense for positions, facilities, and military equipment against enemy FPV drones.
The charge fires a special weighted net. It deploys during the shot, physically entangles the enemy drone, and brings it down. The module can carry six charges and has two cameras for observation and monitoring. It also features automatic target detection, making it easier and faster for the operator to detect a threat.
Where it can be installed and when serial production is expected
The system can be installed in a fixed position, including to protect checkpoints, trenches, or infrastructure, or mounted on vehicles.
According to company representatives, the first serial-production units could appear on the market within a few months.
Ukraine is also developing other drone interception systems. In August, the Armed Forces of Ukraine received the first Ukrainian jet-powered interceptor, Alexa Spatium. According to the Ministry of Defense, it is a high-speed unmanned aircraft designed to destroy small aerial, ground, and surface targets.
In late September, Head of the Presidential Office Kyrylo Budanov said that the mass deployment of interceptor drones could begin within a few months. According to him, prototypes are already being tested in combat conditions and are shooting down enemy drones.
