In this new section of Unmanned Airspace we provide a round-up of counter-UAS equipment and strategy news from the Ukrainian war, with original material and sources.
Equipment
New low-cost C-UAS Ukrainian intercept missiles have been in the news recently. At this week’s DroneX in London TechEx displayed two new low-cost C-UAS intercept drones – the Stalker, a 350 km/h intercept drone with a range of 25km, a flight altitude of 4,000m and a target detection range of 500m and the Striker S, a 270km/h intercept missile, with a range of more than 20km, a flight altitude of 5,000m and a target detection range of more than 300m.
Meanwhile, Amazing Drones has developed a C-UAS intercept drone that autonomously detects and intercepts aerial targets at speeds up to 300 km/h. (Source)
Besomar recently developed a reusable interceptor drone equipped with a shotgun and an automated firing system ( source: https://ukrainetoday.org/ukraine-creates-reusable-interceptor-drone-equipped-with-shotgun/). “According to the developers, in the current configuration, the system mounted on an aircraft-type interceptor drone allows for two shots, but this number can be increased to four if necessary…. According to the developers, their interceptor can neutralize drones at speeds up to 200 km/h, including Gerbera UAVs that fly at 100-130 km/h and various types of reconnaissance UAVs. Since the interceptor is equipped with a digital communication system with a frequency response function, it can approach the target and hit it unnoticed by the evasion systems installed on Russian drones. A feature of the system is that it can fire at the target not only manually but also automatically.”
UkrDefense unveiled its upgraded Gaarpia interceptor drone at the IT Arena 2025 expo, reports DefenderMedia. Gaarpia features a modular design that can be quickly assembled at the launch site. “It is catapult-launched, capable of reaching speeds of up to 200 km/h, operating at altitudes of up to 5,000 metres, and remaining airborne for up to 100 minutes.” The same news source also announced Piranha Tech at the IT Arena 2025 conference launched the high-speed Shahed interceptor Hunter and the manoeuvrable drone Riki, developed primarily to intercept enemy reconnaissance drones.
In more novel C-UAS initiatives, Ukrainian forces have started to deploy stretched, rotating barbed-wire defences in key logistical areas to cut the cords of Russian FPV drone cable which run along the ground (Source). And Ukrainian BTR-3 armored personnel carriers have been upgraded with specialized anti-drone protection “cope cages” designed to counter the widespread use of unmanned aerial vehicles on the battlefield, according to Defense Express.
Policies, programmes and strategy
“In addition to offering air defense training to the country’s allies, Ukraine is also ready to help NATO partners identify and procure the necessary defensive tools to combat Russian drones,” according to an Atlantic Council blog. “Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently stressed that nobody in the world has enough missiles to shoot down the large volumes of drones currently being deployed by the Kremlin. Instead, a more eclectic approach is needed, featuring ground-based air defenses and jet fighters together with defensive drones, helicopter patrols, and propeller planes”.
Ukraine is now able to down around 90% of incoming Russian drones, even on days when massive barrages happen, such as 7 September when Moscow launched its largest ever attack against Ukraine, firing 810 Shahed-type drones, according to the Ukrainian president.
Ukrainian military specialists have travelled to Denmark to take part in joint counter-drone exercises, following reports of drone incursions in the country. The “Wings of Defense” training will bring together Ukrainian and Danish forces to practice countermeasures against unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said.
| The Counter-UAS 2025 Directory – a special offer for Unmanned Airspace readers
The new 2025 edition of the Unmanned Airspace 2025 Counter-UAS Directory lists over 1,000 C-UAS systems in production or development from Ukraine and around the world, along with system technical data and capabilities, contract awards and partnership arrangements. Unmanned Airspace readers and newsletter subscribers can get the Directory at a discounted purchase price. Please contact the editor, philip@unmannedairspace.info for more details. |
(Image: Shutterstock)
