Ukraine is developing low-cost interceptor missiles designed specifically to destroy Shahed drones used by Russia in attacks against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.
The information comes from the Ukrainian portal Militarnyi. According to Ukrainian officials, the new systems are intended to reduce the cost of air defence operations, as intercepting inexpensive drones with traditional missiles can create a significant financial imbalance on the battlefield.
Ukraine’s Minister of Digital Transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov, said prototypes of the interceptors are already undergoing tests and that the government plans to rapidly scale up production before the next period of intensified attacks on the country’s energy infrastructure.
“We want to increase production and reduce the cost of interceptor missiles in order to prepare for the emergence of jet-powered Shahed drones,” Fedorov emphasised.
Ukrainian officials say the goal is to create a more financially sustainable air defence network, capable of dealing with mass drone attacks without quickly depleting stocks of more expensive and sophisticated missiles.
The initiative comes amid the evolution of Russia’s own drones. More recent variants of the Shahed, including versions with jet engines, have been increasing speed and range, creating new challenges for Ukraine’s conventional air defence systems.
Photo: ArmyInform. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
