The U.S. defense company B&M Defense conducted tests in Ukraine of the AA Lancer 7 high-speed interceptor drone, designed to engage aerial targets. Representatives of B&M Defense told this Defense Express.
The new drone can reach a maximum speed of 400 km/h, making it a potential countermeasure to russian attack drones, particularly Shahed-type drones.
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The UAV belongs to a class of specialized interceptor drones that can be used as an additional layer of air defense. According to the manufacturer, the AA Lancer 7 has a cruising speed of 180 km/h, a maximum range of 30 kilometers, a payload capacity of 500 grams, an endurance of up to 17 minutes, and an operational ceiling of four kilometers.
The tests in Ukraine were conducted to verify the platform's capabilities and assess its potential for countering modern air threats. The company is not currently disclosing detailed test results or information about any successful interceptions of aerial targets. A number of AA Lancer 7 interceptor drones have been transferred to units of the Defense Forces of Ukraine for testing under combat conditions.
B&M Defense also reported that it is working on the development of interceptor drones capable of countering jet-powered aerial threats.
B&M Defense is an American company founded in 2015 that develops unmanned aerial systems, loitering munitions, and counter-UAV technologies. Against the backdrop of russia's widespread use of attack drones, Ukraine is actively developing specialized interceptor drones. Such systems are considered a more cost-effective alternative to using expensive anti-aircraft missiles against certain types of aerial threats.
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