"The drone revolution" by Ukrainians: why cheap drones on the frontline proved more effective than expensive missiles

As early as autumn 2022, Ukraine practically had no effective tools to fight enemy UAVs, but within a few years the situation changed radically. Today small mobile teams, including crews of the 127th Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, using self-made drones, intercept in the air “Shaheds” that Russia launches in waves.

The front has turned into a kind of laboratory where technologies are born not in offices but during real combat missions. The Ukrainian market for interceptor drones has grown rapidly, and developments are already being showcased at international exhibitions. However, the main innovations remain at the front — where the military are forced to adapt quickly to new threats.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that allies in the Middle East are already turning to Ukraine for experience in combating Iranian drones, which are actively used in other conflicts as well.

A pilot of the 127th Brigade, in an anonymous conversation with Associated Press. said that using drones became a forced decision due to the lack of other effective options to counter aerial targets.

“It’s not that one day we sat down and decided to fight with drones. We did it because there was nothing else,” – the serviceman said.

He also explained that even single-use drones are trying not to be lost but recovered, repaired and launched again to increase effectiveness:

“Imagine — a Patriot missile costs about $2 million, and here you have a small plane worth about $2,200. And if it doesn’t hit the target, I can land it, fix it a bit and send it back into the air. The difference is huge. And the effect? No worse.”

According to the military, at first portable anti-aircraft missiles were used to fight Russian reconnaissance drones, but this approach quickly proved ineffective — maneuverable targets easily avoided being hit. After that an alternative was found — intercepting a drone with another drone. This approach became a turning point in the development of the new tactic. Later a new task arose — intercepting fast “Shaheds” that attack far from the front line. For this, the military began cooperating with developers and local companies.

Volunteers also play an important role in the development of technologies. In particular, the fund “Come Back Alive” in 2024 launched the project “Dronopad”, which helps scale successful solutions from the front.

Project lead Taras Tymochko explained that at first even the military were not confident in the prospects of such an approach. However, within a short time interceptor drones were able to reach speeds of over 200 km/h, which allowed them to effectively destroy “Shaheds” in the air.

“Many called it air defense for the poor. But it turns out that air defense for the poor can sometimes be more effective than air defense for the rich,” – said Taras Tymochko.

Earlier we wrote:

• Night drone attack on the energy sector: part of the Mykolaiv region left without power
• Strikes on the Mykolaiv region: after a drone attack two villages were left without electricity
• Missiles, drones and FPV: the enemy attacked the Mykolaiv region at night and in the morning
• “Shaheds” targeted transport: houses and a school roof were also damaged in Mykolaiv
• Ukraine creates its own air defense dome against mass drone attacks