Ukrainian interceptors destroyed a rocket-powered 'Shahed': two companies completed combat trials

Developments by two Ukrainian companies successfully passed combat trials of new interceptor drones. During testing they destroyed one Russian jet-powered drone of the “Shahed” type, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported at the “Carpathian Initiative” (C8) summit.

According to the head of state, the new systems have already proven their effectiveness in real combat conditions. The interceptors and the enemy drone were moving at high speed.

“For now we are trying not to go into details about fast interceptors against fast ‘Shaheds’. Two companies successfully passed tests — combat trials. The enemy ‘Shahed’ was destroyed, they were moving at quite high speed. That’s a big positive, to be honest,” said Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The state plans to speed up mass production of such systems as much as possible. Testing of various interceptor variants continues, while contracts are already being signed with certain manufacturers.

Altogether, 67 Ukrainian companies are working on means to combat jet-powered drones. The president called the successful combat tests of developments by two of them an important signal for the industry and confirmation of the prospects of this direction.

One of the main issues remains attracting the funds necessary to scale up production. This topic Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

“Yesterday I spoke with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. We will meet with her soon. We are preparing some proposals on how to address the shortfalls,” said Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Earlier we wrote:

• The operator presses, then the drone does everything itself: Ukrainians upgraded hunting for Shahed
• Kim announced municipal production of drones to shoot down ‘Shaheds’
• Ukraine is destroying new Russian drones: cheap interceptor drones are changing the course of the war
• Shaheds are being adapted by the Russians to Ukrainian interceptors — next will be jet drones
• Ukraine activates hunter drones to defend against Russia’s mass attacks