Ukraine has officially confirmed that it possesses interceptor drones capable of downing russian Shahed drones equipped with jet engines. The statement was made by Pavlo Palisa, Deputy Head of the Office of the President, in a recent interview to Novyny.Live.
According to Pavlo Palisa, different models of interceptors demonstrate varying levels of effectiveness. Their performance depends on numerous factors, ranging from the specific type of drone to the skill of the crews operating them and even weather conditions.
Read more: MQ-9 Reaper is Answer to Stopping Shaheds Just as Q-1 Nearly Shot Down MiG-25 in 2002
He emphasizes that Ukraine is working to build an optimized, multi-layered air defense system. This involves deploying interceptors at different ranges and altitudes to ensure the country can effectively counter all forms of massive aerial threats coming from russia.
Addressing the growing challenge posed by upgraded Shahed drones fitted with jet engines, Pavlo Palisa notes that Ukrainian forces already have the means to confront them.
"We have interceptor drones capable of fighting the Shahed drones with jet engines. The enemy is evolving, and we are not standing still. We have no other choice," he said.
The confirmation highlights Ukraine's adaptive approach to countering russia's evolving drone warfare. The Shahed drones, initially designed as relatively slow loitering munitions, have recently been upgraded with new propulsion, making them faster and more difficult targets.
As Defense Express previously reported, Ukrainian defenders have achieved another significant success in the fight against russian unmanned aviation. According to the 414th Separate Brigade, Ukrainian forces have shot down russian Orion high-altitude strike and reconnaissance UAV, valued at over $5 million.
The Orion drone is one of russia's most advanced UAVs, designed for both surveillance and precision strikes. Its destruction represents not only a tactical victory but also a considerable financial and technological loss for Moscow. Each unit requires years of development and expensive imported components, many of which are under sanctions.
Read more: $5 Million Gone: Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces Down russian Orion UAV (Video)
