Ukraine showcases interceptor drone reaching 400 km/h

Ukrainian officials announced the country has produced interceptor drones capable of reaching 400 km/h, in an effort to counter Russia's Geran UAVs.

"An interceptor drone using an engine manufactured by Motor-G, a Brave1 member, can reach 400 km/h," stated Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine's Minister of Digital Transformation, on 15/12.

Brave1, a platform established by the Ukrainian government to promote domestic defense projects, revealed that Motor-G is now producing approximately 100,000 drone engines monthly. This marks a significant achievement, as manufacturing such engines in Ukraine "seemed impossible" just two years ago.

Fedorov added, "More and more drones are flying with engines produced in Ukraine."

A model of Ukraine's interceptor drone in an image posted in August. Photo: Militarnyi

The ongoing conflict is accelerating the development of Ukraine's defense industry, with civilian drones being adapted into interceptor vehicles. Earlier this year, the volunteer organization Wild Hornets unveiled an interceptor drone model capable of reaching speeds up to 315 km/h, significantly faster than the 60 km/h of a typical first-person view drone.

Ukrainian interceptor drones achieve high speeds despite relying on propeller engines, rather than jet or solid-fuel rocket engines. These weapons are also affordable, typically priced under 6,000 USD each, enabling their deployment in large quantities as an intercept solution.

Ukraine has recently intensified efforts to upgrade the speed of its interceptor drones, specifically to counter Russia's Geran-series suicide unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

The standard Geran-2 model typically operates at speeds between 185-290 km/h. However, since early this year, Russia began deploying the Geran-3 series, which boasts speeds of approximately 370 km/h due to its jet engine. This rendered older Ukrainian interceptor drones unable to match their targets.

Recent images suggest that Ukrainian manufacturers have addressed this challenge. In November, Serhii Sternenko, head of a volunteer organization that supplies drones to the Ukrainian military, shared images of Ukrainian interceptor drones engaging Russian jet UAVs from the rear.