Turning the tide on a budget: How Ukrainian interceptor drones learned to shoot down Shaheds and what it means for the war in Iran

The Ukrainian Sting interceptor drone, serially produced by the Wild Hornets non-profit, was designed to intercept Shaheds and has since been enhanced to counter nighttime attacks on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure objects. It has also been spotted intercepting a jet-powered Shahed while fitted with an R-60 air-to-air missile. The Sting can reach speeds of more than 340 km/h and operates at altitudes of up to 3 kilometers.

The Osminog (“Octopus”) air defense drone is a joint Ukrainian-British development created to counter Shahed-type UAVs. The drone can reach speeds in excess of 300 km/h. It is equipped with an AI-based control system for automatic terminal guidance to the target, can operate around the clock, is resistant to EW systems, and performs well at low altitudes. More than 29 private Ukrainian companies have received licenses for its serial production, and assembly in the United Kingdom is also planned. Four Ukrainian manufacturers have signed contracts to deliver 8,000 drones to the DFU, the Defense Ministry reported on April 30.

The Merops system, developed by the American defense company Perennial Autonomy, was supplied to Ukraine in 2024 and has shown high effectiveness, according to U.S. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll. The Merops consists of a ground control station, which detects the target, launchers, and Surveyor reusable interceptor drones with a compact warhead. The interceptors are fitted with wings, typical of fixed-wing UAVs, and X-tail stabilizers. The exact technical specifications of the system are not disclosed, but the Surveyor is known to reach speeds exceeding 280 km/h. A distinctive feature of the system is its ability to work both autonomously and under an operator's remote control. Merops can function in EW conditions and uses AI for autonomous navigation when GPS and comms are jammed. The cost of a single Merops system is $14,000–15,000, but the unit price can drop significantly for large orders. It is currently known to be in use in the Middle East.

The Bagnet air defense drone, made by the Ukrainian defense company Tenebris, is 85% composed of domestically produced components. It is designed for the detection, interception, and destruction of loitering munitions at altitudes of up to 5 kilometers. Bagnet reaches speeds of up to 250 km/h and is fitted with a warhead of up to 1 kilogram. It uses an explosively-formed penetrator to destroy targets in the air and reduce the risk of falling debris. Its built-in guidance system, developed by the French startup Alta Ares, can detect the target and steer the drone toward it in the final stage of the flight. Another important feature is automatic takeoff and return in the event no target is detected.

German TYTAN Technologies interceptor drones emerged at the end of 2024 and were immediately put to the test in real combat conditions in Ukraine. These autonomous air defense drones detect, track, and destroy Shaheds and reconnaissance UAVs by direct hit — all with minimal operator involvement. This past April, TYTAN Technologies announced a special shipment of more than 1,000 METIS interceptor drones for Ukraine's National Guard. The new AI-enhanced version has a range of more than 45 kilometers, reaches speeds of up to 400 km/h, and is capable of effectively engaging targets at altitudes of up to 6 kilometers while carrying a warhead of up to 1 kilogram.

STRILA is a Ukrainian air defense missile-type UAV produced by WIY Drones. It is designed to intercept high-speed and maneuvering airborne targets. STRILA uses original WIY software and target-designation sources that allow the operator to receive data on the target's direction, altitude, and speed. The drone has an operating radius of up to 14 kilometers and a range of 28 kilometers. It operates at altitudes of up to 5 km, carries a warhead of up to 800 grams, and reaches speeds of up to 350 km/h.

This past March it was announced that Ukraine’s WIY Drones and Germany’s Quantum Systems had released the STRILA-2 modification featuring a solid-fuel rocket booster that allows the UAV to take off almost vertically and gain altitude in a matter of seconds before switching to energy-efficient flight using four electric motors. As a result, the STRILA-2 can attack targets from above, while built-in AI-driven software helps it autonomously recognize and lock onto the target even when comms are jammed by EW tools. The German government has financed an order to produce 15,000 STRILA interceptors for Ukraine's National Guard. The cooperation envisions not only procurement but also the expansion of production to Ukraine itself.

In short, air defense is undergoing substantial changes due to Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine. Given the shortage of SAMs in the world and the growing prevalence of cheap one-way attack systems, the emphasis is shifting toward creating affordable air defense alternatives such as interceptor drones.