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Two Ukrainian defense companies have successfully conducted combat tests of new interceptor drones, shooting down a Russian jet-powered Shahed, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
Speaking at the Carpathian Initiative (C8) summit, Zelenskyy said Ukrainian developers had demonstrated the effectiveness of the new air-defense systems under real combat conditions.
“We are trying not to go into details yet about fast interceptors against fast Shaheds. Two companies have successfully completed combat tests. An enemy Shahed was destroyed, and they were moving at a sufficiently high speed. This is a major positive,” Zelenskyy said.
The president said the government wants to review the full results of the testing and determine how to accelerate the launch of mass production.
“We are talking with these companies, and contracts are already being signed,” he added.
67 companies developing interceptors
According to Zelenskyy, 67 Ukrainian companies are currently working on interceptor systems designed to counter Russia’s jet-powered drones.
He said the successful tests by the two developers provide encouragement for the wider industry, but scaling up production will require additional funding.
“We are working on this issue. Yesterday we spoke with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. We will meet with her soon. We are preparing several proposals on how to overcome these shortages,” Zelenskyy said.
Zelenskyy has previously described countering Russia’s jet-powered Shahed drones as one of the main challenges facing Ukraine’s defense industry.
Ukraine has been testing new interceptor technologies at an accelerated pace and has also called on international partners to establish joint production of weapons capable of countering the faster drones.
