Twenty Ukrainian firms are racing to catch Russia’s jet-powered Shaheds. This one’s interceptor is already flying combat missions

Twenty Ukrainian firms are racing to develop jet-powered interceptors capable of downing Russia's increasingly fast, jet-powered drones, according to Defender Media. One such company, Firebolt Engineering, a Ukrainian-British startup, has already deployed an interceptor for combat missions alongside two Air Force units and Ukraine's special operations forces.

In August alone, Russia launched over 2,500 jet-powered drones into Ukraine, overwhelming air defenses designed for slower, piston-engine Shahed-136 drones. Ukrainian Defense Minister Yevhen Khmara announced in August 2026 that four interceptor systems have successfully undergone field testing and are being prepared for mass production.

However, it remains uncertain if Firebolt's interceptor, Griffin, is among them. Griffin, the first product of Firebolt, is a jet-powered, fixed-wing interceptor that can reach speeds over 350 km/h, altitudes above 7.5 km, and has a range of up to 120 km. The team is working on further increasing its speed, aiming for over 400 km/h.

Griffin currently costs between $8,300 and $10,500, and Firebolt can manufacture 30 interceptors per month. The company is also developing a homing system intended to enable Griffin to find and strike targets autonomously, but this goal is hindered by Ukraine's limited and fragmented radar coverage.