**Ukraine’s New Interceptor Drones: A Game-Changer in the War Against Russia**
As the war between Ukraine and Russia continues to intensify, the Ukrainian government is turning to innovative technology to defend its skies. The latest development is a new generation of interceptor drones designed specifically to take down Russian Shahed drones.
The Prytula Foundation, a Ukrainian charity that also helps to finance military developments, has been at the forefront of this initiative. According to Bohdan Danyliv, who heads the military department of the foundation, each drone costs under $2,000 and is successful in downing Russian drones like the Geran.
**A Desperate Need for Air Defense**
The Ukrainian government’s defense tech apparatus publicly established anti-Shahed defense as a top priority earlier this year. This move was prompted by Russia’s increasing use of long-range Shahed drones to attack Ukrainian cities and towns. The speed and maneuverability of these drones make them difficult to track and destroy, leaving Ukraine in dire need of effective air defense systems.
**Interceptors: A Precision Solution on a Budget**
The new interceptor drones are precision-made to take down Russian Shaheds, with an average cost of around $5,000 per unit. This is a significant improvement over surface-to-air missiles, which can range from $40,000 to $100,000 each. The development and deployment of these interceptors have been facilitated through co-production efforts with countries like the United Kingdom.
**Domestic Air Defense Production: A Non-Entity**
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s domestic air defense missile production has all but ceased. Even for older generations of Soviet surface-to-air missiles like the S-300s, production has stopped, citing security concerns. This has led to a significant reliance on pre-war supplies and inconsistent imports from countries like the United States.
**The Challenge Ahead**
Despite these advancements, there are still questions surrounding the efficacy of Ukraine’s new interceptor drones in clearing skies of swarms of Shaheds at a time. Russia’s production rate for Gerans alone has reached an astonishing 70 units per day, with some estimates suggesting as many as 500 Shaheds may be used in single nighttime attacks.
**”We Need to Make It So the Russians Cry Bitter Tears”**
The urgency and desperation behind Ukraine’s efforts to develop effective air defense systems are palpable. As Bohdan Danyliv so aptly put it, “It needed to happen yesterday… We need to make it so the Russians cry bitter tears, so they’re afraid to take flight.”
