Air Force works with 20 interceptor drone makers, 14 in test flights - deputy commander
The Ukrainian Air Force is working with 20 manufacturers of jet-powered interceptor drones, and 14 of them are already conducting test flights, Air Force Deputy Commander Yuriy Cherevashenko said.
The Ukrainian Air Force is collaborating with 20 companies that manufacture jet-powered interceptor drones, according to Deputy Commander Yuriy Cherevashenko. Currently, 14 of these manufacturers are actively participating in test flights. Six companies have demonstrated success in destroying other jet-powered drones, while three have results that the Air Force deems promising.
Two of these systems have already been officially sanctioned, with one being the Predator (Khyzhak). Most of these drones are initially designed for other purposes but are quickly modified for aerial interception. They operate using a first-person-view principle, where a ground-based operator views the drone's video feed and controls it in real-time.
The drones can reach speeds of around 460-500 km/h, with some manufacturers claiming a maximum speed of up to 700 km/h. The Air Force is also training personnel for combat operations involving these drones, starting with basic pilot training and progressing to specialized interception training. The Air Force recognizes two types of these drones: traditional rotor-driven models and faster jet-powered versions, both of which they consider valuable tools for air defense.
Written by urgent.news from Interfax-Ukraine's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
