Ukraine has successfully tested a domestically developed interceptor designed to counter Russian jet-powered Shahed drones, with one drone hit during the trial. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy linked the test to a briefing from Commander-in-Chief Mykhailo Drapatyi and said some technical elements still need refinement before the system is ready for operational use.
The test comes as Ukraine accelerates efforts to respond to faster jet-powered Russian drones, which have outpaced earlier, cheaper propeller-drone interceptors. Reuters reported that more than 60 Ukrainian companies are working on interception solutions, while existing concepts have produced mixed results in testing. The interceptor’s name, manufacturer and technical specification have not been disclosed, and no deployment timetable has been confirmed.