Defence companies are accelerating efforts to develop a new generation of high-speed interceptor drones as Russia increasingly deploys jet-powered versions of its Shahed attack drones, posing a growing challenge to Ukraine's air defences.
At the Farnborough International Airshow in the UK, Ukrainian drone manufacturer SkyFall unveiled its new P1-SUN Jetkiller, a faster interceptor designed to counter the latest Shahed variants.
According to the company, the drone can reach speeds of up to 370 km/h, compared with 310 km/h for its previous model.
Russia has increasingly used jet-powered Shahed drones, known domestically as the Geran, to strike targets deeper inside Ukraine.
Capable of flying at speeds of up to 500 km/h, the upgraded drones significantly reduce the time available for Ukrainian forces to detect and intercept incoming attacks.
SkyFall says development of the Jetkiller began three months ago and claims the drone has already been tested on the battlefield, where it has destroyed more than a dozen jet-powered Shaheds. The claims have not been independently verified.
The company plans to begin mass production in August and says its original P1-SUN interceptor has downed more than 5,500 Shahed drones since late 2025.
Other manufacturers are also working on faster interceptors: Ukrainian company General Cherry is developing an upgraded version of its Bullet drone, designed to exceed 400 km/h, with a long-term goal of reaching 500 km/h. Front-line testing is expected to begin in August before mass production starts in September.
Meanwhile, British-Ukrainian firm Firebolt Engineering has introduced its Griffen jet-powered interceptor, which currently reaches 350 km/h and has already recorded its first successful interception of a Russian Shahed drone.
The company is collaborating with UK-based Dynamic Propulsion on a more powerful engine expected to increase speeds to around 400 km/h.
While improving speed remains a priority, manufacturers say keeping production costs low is equally important, as Ukraine continues to rely on affordable, mass-produced systems to counter Russia's expanding drone campaign.
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Here’s your AnewZ Daily Brief for 24 September 2026, with five key developments from the second day of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
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