Enemy drones over Ukraine are being brought down by the nation's own unmanned aerial vehicles.
Ukraine has made a significant leap in the development and deployment of drone interceptor technology, becoming the first country to shoot down enemy drones using its own drones. This innovative approach, combining speed, cost-effectiveness, and autonomous AI, is playing a crucial role in countering the unprecedented wave of Russian kamikaze drones this year.
The interceptor drones, such as the ODIN Antishaheed system and the Wild Hornets startup’s STING interceptor drone, are armed with high-speed interceptors capable of catching kamikaze drones at speeds near 300 km/h. These drones are designed to be faster and more maneuverable than the Shahed drones, increasing interception success.
One of the key advantages of these interceptor drones is their cost. They cost between $2,500 and $10,000, significantly cheaper than the enemy’s Shahed drones, enabling scale production. Ukraine plans to produce hundreds of thousands of such drones in 2025, supported by partnerships like the memorandum with the American company Swift Beat to expand production capacity and improve capabilities.
Autonomy and AI play a significant role in the operation of these interceptors. With human operators unable to keep pace with the volume and speed of attacks, AI allows launching swarms of interceptors for mass drone strikes without needing one operator per drone, improving reaction times and adaptability.
Ukrainian forces deploy these interceptors within mobile anti-drone units that can rapidly redeploy to areas with heightened drone activity, such as around critical infrastructure or frontline sectors. The Azov counter-drone program emphasizes flexible, mobile operations rather than fixed positions to respond swiftly and precisely.
Besides kinetic interceptors, Ukraine is developing and employing electronic warfare (EW) systems to jam or suppress radio-controlled drones and deploying robotic air defense modules armed with machine guns to tackle slow and low-flying aerial threats.
However, a critical limitation in the effective use of interceptor drones remains the shortage of radar detection systems required for early warning and targeting. Ukraine has only a few of the needed hundreds of radar units, limiting the full potential of drone interceptor networks.
In a significant move, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian President, signed a memorandum with Swift Beat in July 2025, aiming to supply the Ukrainian military with interceptors at cost, capable of shooting down both drones and cruise missiles. This partnership is expected to provide hundreds of thousands of drone systems by the end of 2025, and even more in 2026.
Several dozen companies in Ukraine are actively working on developing interceptors, with at least a few having successful combat test results. Full-scale mass production of drone interceptors requires around $6 billion. For the entire arsenal of drones and electronic warfare systems, Ukraine requires up to $25 billion per year.
Despite these challenges, Ukraine is making strides in this technology. Zelenskyy has set a goal to be ready to deploy at least 1,000 interceptors daily. Currently, Ukraine operates "drone air defense" units, using its own interceptors to shoot down enemy drones.
This development was exclusively reported by "24 Channel". In 2024, Ukrainian strike drones began shooting down enemy reconnaissance quadcopters, marking another milestone in Ukraine's advancement in drone technology.
The interceptor drones, such as the ODIN Antishaheed system and the Wild Hornets startup’s STING interceptor drone, are part of the technology being developed and deployed by Ukraine, combining speed, cost-effectiveness, and autonomous AI to counter Russian kamikaze drones. Ukrainian forces are actively working on developing more interceptors, with at least a few having successful combat test results, aiming to supply the military with interceptors at cost, capable of shooting down both drones and cruise missiles.
