{
  "id": 12818130,
  "title": "It was built to shield Russian crops from hail. Now it’s being pitched as a drone interceptor",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/it-was-built-to-shield-russian-crops-from-hail-now-its-being-pitched",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-08T07:31:58.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Euromaidan Press",
    "slug": "euromaidan-press",
    "url": "https://euromaidanpress.com/2026/10/08/it-was-built-to-shield-russian-crops-from-hail-now-its-being-pitched-as-a-drone-interceptor/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Russia unveiled a drone interceptor derived from a civilian anti-hail rocket, the Alazan, at a weapons exhibition visited by President Vladimir Putin on October 2. The Alazan-2M or Alazan-6 series interceptor, which Militarnyi, a Russian arms analyst, estimates could cost up to $12,000 each, was shown at the Chebarkul training range in the Urals. Ukraine has been consistently sending hundreds of drones into Russian airspace, according to Moscow's own figures.\n\nThe Russian Defense Ministry reported intercepting nearly 900 drones between October 1 and 6. However, Russia's missile-based air defense systems were not originally designed to counter swarms of low-flying drones. In May, Ukrainian intelligence sources claimed Russia had bolstered its defenses by adding four regiments, 24 battalions, and 162 batteries to specifically target Ukrainian strike drones. Militarnyi is capitalizing on this trend by repurposing the Alazan for drone intercepting purposes.\n\nThe interceptor is essentially a modified version of the Alazan-2M or Alazan-6 series, with a fragmentation warhead replacing its civilian reagent. In its civilian role, the rocket can reach a distance of 10 km, ascend up to 8 km, and carry a 0.5 kg reagent payload. The front portion of the interceptor is designed with a steering assembly, comprising four cruciform deflector fins and a seeker or fuze, while the rear features folding stabilizers and a solid-fuel motor nozzle mounted on a metal cradle.\n\nDespite the interceptor being featured in Kremlin's exhibition, it was not explicitly mentioned in the official account. Kremlin-owned television channel Russia 1 aired footage of the exhibit, and the Kremlin's press agency RIA published associated photos.",
  "summary": "In farm service, the Alazan flies about 10 km and climbs up to 8 km. Russian state TV showed a guided version at a training range Putin toured.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Insider",
        "title": "The GRU’s dud drone: How Russian intelligence botched a sabotage plot at Leipzig airport",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/the-grus-dud-drone-how-russian-intelligence-botched-a-sabotage-plot",
        "published": "2026-10-08T08:00:56.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Interfax-Ukraine",
        "title": "Russian drone hits store building in Kyiv – mayor",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/russian-drone-hits-store-building-in-kyiv-mayor",
        "published": "2026-10-08T09:08:09.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Kyiv Independent",
        "title": "Russian drone barrage on Kyiv kills 3, injures 13, disrupts electricity, water supplies",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/russian-drone-barrage-on-kyiv-kills-3-injures-13-disrupts-electricity",
        "published": "2026-10-08T09:54:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}