Ukraine has built its own jet-powered drone interceptor — and it'll easily fit in the back of a pickup truck

Ukraine has unveiled a turbojet-powered interceptor, Alexa Spatium, designed to combat Russian attack drones. The aircraft, compact enough to fit in a pickup truck, can return to base after failed interception attempts. With multiple warhead options, including thermobaric, shaped-charge, fragmentation, and high-explosive, Alexa Spatium targets various aerial threats such as Geran-3, Geran-4, Geran-5 kamikaze drones, and Shahed-131 loitering munitions.

The interceptor can be launched using a portable catapult and guided either through pre-loaded coordinates or direct operator control. Its detection relies on an electro-optical camera and infrared sensor. While several nations are developing similar weapons, Ukraine's primary concern lies in safeguarding against ballistic missiles, which surpass the speed of these interceptors.

To address this challenge, the U.K. has provided technical support to Ukraine, enabling it to potentially manufacture its own version of the Storm Shadow cruise missile domestically. However, the effectiveness of these interceptors in protecting Ukraine's airspace during the upcoming winter months remains uncertain, largely influenced by political factors.