Ukraine fights back: Innovative drone defenses against Russian threats
Since September 2022, the Russians have launched over 7,000 Shahed kamikaze drones into Ukrainian territories. These unmanned aerial vehicles often pose a significant threat to energy infrastructure. Ukrainians are seeking new ways to defend against them without relying on anti-aircraft missiles.
9:06 AM EDT, October 17, 2024
In the past two months, the number of drones launched has been on the rise. "In August, Ukrainian air forces recorded 789 drones and in September, 1,339," according to a report by the portal Ekonomiczna Prawda, published by the Polish Press Agency. Previously, these numbers varied between 300 and 600 drones monthly.
Ukrainian interceptor drones emerged in the skies this summer, regularly downing Russian UAVs. This solution is a key defense element, especially in response to increasing attacks. FPV drones used for this role are noted for their higher speed and stronger batteries, enabling operations over greater distances.
"Several teams working on drone development are focused on adapting this solution to combat Shaheds. For this purpose, Ukrainian FPV drones must become even faster and be equipped with night vision cameras," reports the portal.
Drones to combat drones
The co-founder of one of Ukraine's leading drone manufacturing companies, who preferred to remain anonymous, reported that their equipment reached up to 202 mph, nearly double the cruising speed of a Shahed. This capability allows for quick response. The company plans to test its UAVs in October. "The engineers have not yet utilized all the capabilities of FPV-type machines," he emphasized in a conversation with Ekonomiczna Prawda.
Properly deploying air defense systems is key to effectively combating kamikaze drones. Monitoring Ukraine's airspace using radio stations would be difficult, so Ukrainians are turning to alternative methods, including acoustic sensors. These sensors are designed to detect the sound of Shahed drones and provide real-time location information on targets.
However, acoustic sensors are not the only technology Ukraine is relying on. Electronic warfare systems also play an essential role. They disrupt the stability of drones and cause them to "get lost" in flight. As a result, one of the Ukrainian defense industry's priorities is producing electronic warfare systems.
