Ukraine unveils native jet-powered drone interceptor

Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence has revealed the nation's first home-built jet-powered drone interceptor named Alexa Spatium. This v-tail unmanned plane, created by Ukrainian engineers, is designed to neutralize Russian attack drones such as the Geran-3, Geran-4, Geran-5, and Shahed-131. The Alexa Spatium, measuring 1.5 by 1.7 meters, can be launched from a mobile catapult and can return to the launch site for reuse if its mission isn't completed.

The aircraft is equipped with various warheads, including high-explosive, fragmentation, shaped-charge, and thermobaric. It can follow pre-programmed coordinates or use direct guidance for targeting. The MoD highlights the Alexa Spatium's high operational ceiling, substantial combat radius, and powerful turbojet engine, though specific speed details remain undisclosed.

While similar in purpose, the British Skyhammer also utilizes X-band radar and a blast-fragmentation warhead. The United States' Patriot interceptor missiles, crucial for Ukraine's defense, have become insufficient against increasing Russian drone attacks. To address this, in July, a coalition of ten European nations, including the UK and Ukraine, established the Anti-Ballistic Missile Coalition to devise an alternative solution.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, during his visit to Kyiv, authorized European defense firm MBDA to provide classified data on Storm Storm components, enabling Ukraine to manufacture the Anglo-French Storm cruise missile domestically.