In the first quarter of 2026, French company Alta Ares, in partnership with Ukrainian drone operator Tenebris, plans to localize the full production cycle for one of the interceptors in France, if it receives confirmation from the Ukrainian government. Production of the turbojet interceptor has already begun.
In the first quarter of 2026, French company Alta Ares, in partnership with Ukrainian drone operator Tenebris, plans to localize the full production cycle for one of the interceptors in France, if it receives confirmation from the Ukrainian government. Production of the turbojet interceptor has already begun.
«Just two weeks after passing NATO validation, our complex demonstrated its effectiveness by successfully destroying Russian Shahed drones. This is the result of the hard work of our engineers in France and Ukraine. We are sincerely grateful to our Ukrainian and French partners for their trust and the opportunity to work side by side,» said Alta Ares CEO and co-founder Hadrian Kanter.
The mechanism consists of 85% European components, which allows us not to depend on Chinese batteries. «We are already working on localizing production at French facilities after obtaining export permits and are simultaneously expanding production in Ukraine. This will allow us to create a sustainable, binational cluster of defense technologies capable of meeting the critical needs of both Ukraine and our partners in Europe,» said Bohdan Velma, CEO of Tenebris.
The interception system combines tactical radars from Thales and Echodyne with X-Wing interceptors and turbojet drones developed in France and Ukraine. The complex is capable of destroying enemy UAVs at a distance of up to 30 km, and the built-in AI terminal guidance increases the interception efficiency by 35%. The system is compatible with various radars and anti-aircraft systems, ensuring the protection of sensitive objects and critical infrastructure.
Several units of the French army and the Ukrainian government are already in the process of purchasing UAV interception systems. The company has enlisted the support of leading representatives of the defense industry to scale up production.
On November 17, Alta Ares demonstrated its technologies to Presidents Emmanuel Macron and Volodymyr Zelensky at a French military base. The company’s work focuses on developing solutions to protect against kamikaze drones, including the creation of an AI system for interceptor drones.
On October 20, 2025, the Alta Ares interceptor system successfully passed NATO validation at the French Defense Procurement Agency’s test site. And within ten days, the complex was deployed in Ukraine, where it shot down the first Russian Shahed drones.
The French company presented to Presidents Macron and Zelensky the operational capabilities of its systems in Ukraine and on NATO’s eastern flank. It spoke within the Drones and Defense Technologies block, presenting the Safe Protection Dome system, which has been operating in real combat conditions for several months.
Alta Ares is a French integrator of anti-drone solutions, founded in Ukraine. The company has offices in France, Ukraine and the USA. Its goal is to become one of the key European manufacturers of solutions in the field of counter-drones.
Tenebris is a Ukrainian company that manufactures UAV interceptors, specializing in the creation of high-tech solutions to counter air threats. For the latest demonstration, a new interceptor model was developed with a guidance system and full automation of the interception process. The name of the model is not disclosed for security reasons, but the complex has already demonstrated its effectiveness during international tests and joint presentations with European partners.
