Ukraine develops interceptor drone for Shaheds

Ukraine is in the process of developing a drone specifically designed to intercept Iranian-made kamikaze drones deployed by Russia. This new technology aims to target the Shahed-136, providing a viable alternative to traditional air defence systems to protect Ukrainian cities from Russian strikes.

For the first time, photographs of the FPV drone, named Sting, have been released. Developed by the Wild Hornets group, the Sting is reported to achieve speeds exceeding 160 km/h and operate at altitudes of approximately 3 kilometres, Caliber.Az reports per Ukrainian media.

The Sting is a conventional quadcopter featuring a prominent dome at its centre, housing both the warhead and a camera. It will be controlled from the ground using virtual reality goggles, allowing operators to have a direct visual perspective of the drone's flight path. Future upgrades will incorporate an artificial intelligence-based targeting system, enabling pilots to lock onto enemy targets with greater precision.

Similar drones have previously been utilized to intercept Russian reconnaissance drones that operate at high altitudes and low speeds, gathering intelligence for artillery and missile units. Increasingly, videos of Ukrainian drones engaging Russian Orlan and Zala drones have surfaced on social media, showcasing Kyiv's forces effectively employing UAVs to neutralize surveillance systems.

However, the Sting represents the first drone specifically engineered to counter the Iranian Shahed drones launched by Russian forces.

Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that the country is on track to produce 1.5 million drones this year, with plans to ramp up production to approximately 4 million annually. He also indicated that Ukraine may soon enhance its air defence capabilities, particularly regarding the interception of enemy missiles and drones.

By Vafa Guliyeva