Ukraine to Soon Deploy AI Interceptor Drones to Counter Russian Jet-Powered Shaheds

Ukraine is expected to soon deploy new interceptor drones into active service to neutralize Russia's faster jet-powered Shahed drones.

According to a Bloomberg report on July 21 (local time), SkyFall, a major Ukrainian drone manufacturer, announced that its new P1-SUN drone is in the final stages of testing.

The new model, dubbed the "Jet Killer," was developed specifically to intercept the jet-powered Shahed drones used by Russia.

SkyFall explains that the drone can reach a top speed of 370 km/h, allowing it to shoot down Shahed drones that have slowed down during their attack phase.

While older models of Shahed drones have top speeds of 185 to 250 km/h, the jet-powered versions can fly at speeds of up to 550 km/h.

In particular, the X-wing model of the Jet Killer interceptor has reduced its warhead from 800g to 600g compared to the standard version and features an improved motor to achieve higher speeds.

The new model is also equipped with an artificial intelligence (AI) system.

Once a target is designated, the drone autonomously handles everything from flight to interception.

It can also be remotely controlled via various satellite communication networks, including Starlink.

The typical price of a P1-SUN drone is around 3,000 USD (approximately 4.4 million KRW).

This is significantly cheaper than Russia's Shahed drones, which cost between 40,000 and 100,000 USD (approximately 59 million to 148 million KRW).

SkyFall also unveiled a new long-range strike weapon on this day.

Ukraine has recently been using long-range drones to strike energy facilities deep behind enemy lines, more than 1,000 km from the border.

The new weapon features a fixed-wing propeller design and is designed to fly into a target and detonate upon impact.

It has a wingspan of approximately 3.5 meters and a range of at least 600 km.

It is currently undergoing field tests and is expected to enter mass production within a few months.

SkyFall tied for first place with the British company SkyCutter in the U.S. Department of Defense's "Drone Advantage" competitive procurement program this year, securing a contract to supply more than 2,500 drones.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.