Ukraine's Starlink slowdown only dropped its interception rate against Russia's new Shaheds by a few percent
Fighter jets like the F-16 helped hold the line while Ukraine's jet interceptors suffered a critical 10-day disruption to Starshield services.
Ukraine successfully intercepted roughly three-quarters of Russia's turbojet Shaheds during a 10-day period in October, according to analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). This interception rate, which dropped to about 74%, is slightly lower than Ukraine's typical rate of around 77%. Much of Ukraine's defense against these fast-moving drones now depends on its fighter jets, such as the F-16.
Despite the 10-day slowdown of Starshield, a military version of Starlink that helps intercept these drones, Ukraine's forces managed to maintain a high interception rate. However, the analysts cautioned that while this rate is still high, it doesn't mean Ukraine can be complacent. Many of the interceptions were achieved through the use of Ukrainian fighter jets, which have been Ukraine's primary defense against the jet-powered Shaheds.
The F-16, in particular, carries a powerful six-barrel, Gatling-style rotary cannon that can shoot down multiple drones in a single night. However, this strategy poses a few challenges for Ukraine. It requires highly skilled pilots, increases the risk to the aircraft and its crew, and puts a strain on Ukraine's already limited resources.
The analysts suggested that augmenting Ukraine's air defense with interceptor drones could provide a more sustainable solution.
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