End of Shahed era: Ukraine builds laser-based anti-drone dome

Ukraine is building a domestic “anti-drone dome” that combines laser air-defence systems with inexpensive interceptor drones to counter large-scale Russian drone attacks, including mass launches of Shahed UAVs, The Atlantic reports.

At the core of the project is Sunray, a laser-based air-defence system capable of destroying drones with a focused beam. Ukrainian engineers spent roughly two years developing the system, achieving results at a fraction of the cost of comparable Western programs.

Deputy Commander of Ukraine’s Air Force Pavlo Yelizarov said the unusually low cost and fast development cycle are a direct result of wartime realities.

“Many American companies are guided by money. For them, it’s a job. They do it and get paid for it. We have a different factor — the need to survive. That’s why we move faster,” he said.

Alongside the laser system, Ukrainian manufacturers have created the P1-Sun interceptor drone, produced using 3D-printing technology and already launched into serial production. According to the report, these interceptors have been used to destroy more than 1,000 aerial targets, including over 700 Shahed drones.

By the end of 2026, Ukraine’s Armed Forces plan to deploy these interceptor drones nationwide, allowing for near-instant launches when Russian drones are detected by radar systems.

The envisioned anti-drone dome may also incorporate additional elements, including carbon-fibre decoys replicating Russian missiles and wheeled robotic platforms equipped with machine-gun turrets, expanding Ukraine’s layered defence against aerial threats.

By Tamilla Hasanova