KYIV, Ukraine, August 14, 2026 — Ukraine has begun combat testing of its first jet-powered interceptor drones designed to counter Russia’s growing use of jet-powered Shahed-type attack drones.
Former Ukrainian Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said on August 14, after visiting a production facility, that one Ukrainian team had developed a jet-powered interceptor capable of reaching speeds of more than 600 km/h.
🇺🇦 Ukraine begins combat testing of its first jet-powered interceptor drones, designed to counter Russia’s growing use of jet-powered Shahed-type attack drones.
— The Defense News (@TheDefenseNews) August 14, 2026
The new interceptor can exceed 600 km/h, with developers awaiting the first confirmed combat results. pic.twitter.com/pZNNpWCuIA
“The system is now undergoing combat testing,” Fedorov said. Developers are awaiting the results of the trials, including the first confirmed shoot-downs of enemy targets.
Fedorov said Russia is gradually replacing conventional Shahed drones with faster jet-powered versions, describing the development as a change in the strategy of aerial warfare. He said Ukraine must respond quickly to keep pace with each new technological development.
Ukraine launched a coordinated interceptor-drone programme through the Defence Ministry last year. The programme focused on opening the market to manufacturers, conducting combat tests and increasing government procurement. Through Brave1, Ukraine’s defence technology cluster, manufacturers have received grants, while their systems have been assessed and supported during testing.
Fedorov said several Ukrainian companies now have solutions designed to counter jet-powered drones and called for increased investment in research, development, testing and production. He said the immediate task is to increase efforts to counter the threat as quickly as possible.
Other Ukrainian companies are also developing faster interceptors. SkyFall’s P1-SUN JetKiller has been reported at around 370 km/h, with the system already recording interceptions of jet-powered threats and moving toward mass production. British-Ukrainian company Firebolt Engineering’s Griffen jet-powered interceptor exceeds 350 km/h and has reportedly achieved a confirmed shoot-down of a Russian Geran-2, a Shahed-type drone. Separate reports said at least two Ukrainian companies were testing jet-powered interceptors by early June 2026, with one having already downed a Geran drone.
Ukrainian military leadership has previously said Russia intends to increase the share of jet-powered systems, potentially to half of its long-range one-way attack drone inventory.
Ukraine is also expanding the use of slower interceptor drones. On August 12, the Defence Ministry approved the TAF Kolibri-i10, developed by TAF Industries, for service. It can exceed 200 km/h, has a range of up to 25 km, an endurance of more than 20 minutes and an operating altitude of up to 3,000 meters. It is primarily intended to counter reconnaissance and other fixed-wing drones such as Molniya, Orlan and Zala.
The combat testing of the new 600-km/h interceptor is part of Ukraine’s wider effort to develop faster systems as Russia increases its use of jet-powered attack drones.
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