Ukraine has successfully tested a new technology from the Brave1 defense cluster participant, which automates 95% of the process of intercepting enemy drones. New generation interceptor drones are capable of independently homing in on their target and destroying enemy aircraft. What is known about their characteristics?
Ukraine has successfully tested a new technology from the Brave1 defense cluster participant, which automates 95% of the process of intercepting enemy drones. New generation interceptor drones are capable of independently homing in on their target and destroying enemy aircraft. What is known about their characteristics?
This was announced by the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Mykhailo Fedorov, on his social networks. According to him, the development has already passed successful tests in real combat conditions in the Kharkiv region.
The new technological solution simplifies the operator’s work as much as possible. The soldier sees the movement of air targets in real time, selects the desired object on the screen and gives the command to destroy it. After that, the system takes full control: the drone independently flies to the target, autonomously recognizes it and carries out guidance for shooting down.
Ukrainian drones are now autonomously intercepting Shaheds. A @BRAVE1ua developer has created a tech that automates 95% of the interception process—from launch to target destruction.
— Mykhailo Fedorov (@FedorovMykhailo) June 8, 2026
The system successfully completed its combat trials in the Kharkiv region. The operator simply… pic.twitter.com/2JnSQH5Qkm
The system was developed by one of the participants in the Brave1 defense cluster. The creation of the complex from the first prototype to use at the front took less than a year.
«Autonomy is one of the key areas of development of modern air defense. Such technologies make it possible to respond faster to massive attacks and more effectively protect Ukrainian cities,» emphasized Mykhailo Fedorov. He also added that a decision has now been made to scale up this technology, as it has already proven its high effectiveness on the battlefield.
According to Defender Media, the developer of this solution is Ukrainian deftech startup MaXon Systems. The team managed to create a so-called full chain solution, which fully automates all three stages of interception: launch, target acquisition, and direct capture and destruction.
As explained by the co-founder and CEO of MaXon Systems, Oleksiy Solntsev, most Ukrainian manufacturers have only succeeded in automating the «last mile» — the final guidance. However, the biggest problem in practice remains reaching the target area.
In the system from MaXon Systems, launch and altitude gain occur automatically after pressing a single button. At the final stage, artificial intelligence technology, developed jointly with a Dutch partner, is connected, which is responsible for detection, tracking and bringing the interceptor to the detonation zone. The system navigation works using special beacons and internal sensors on board, which allows the drone to navigate even in conditions of active enemy electronic warfare and the absence of a GPS signal.
This automation allows one crew to control several interceptors simultaneously and distribute targets between them in the air. In addition, it eliminates the factor of poor visibility or adverse weather conditions for the operator.
The startup has already completed a pre-seed round of investment, has begun codification of the system, and is preparing the first delivery to one of the military units. The cost of one interceptor drone is about $3,500. In the future, MaXon Systems plans to develop a concept of multi-purpose remote control, which will allow operators to coordinate the operation of launchers at a distance of hundreds of kilometers from the combat duty zone.
Previously, the founder of drone manufacturer Vyriy Industries, Oleksiy Babenko, stated that autonomous war is inevitable .
«This will happen regardless of our desire. The only question is who will do it first — us or the Russians. Therefore, we desperately need software developers so that robots that make decisions to kill Russians appear before robots that make decisions to kill Ukrainians,» he harshly believes.
