SkyDefense Unveils CobraJet: AI-Powered VTOL Drone to Hunt Enemy UAVs at 200 mph

In a major leap for counter-drone technology, British defense firm SkyDefense LLC has unveiled the CobraJet, an AI-powered electric VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) interceptor drone designed to hunt down and destroy hostile unmanned aircraft with unmatched speed and precision.

The CobraJet can reach speeds of over 200 mph, using its agility to engage enemy drones before they reach their targets. Designed for rapid deployment, it can launch from rooftops, forward operating bases, border posts, or even small naval vessels, making it a flexible defense asset for both military and homeland security forces.

Stealth, Power, and Precision

The drone’s propulsion is powered by high-density solid-state lithium batteries from Amprius, giving it extended endurance while keeping noise and heat signatures extremely low—ideal for operating close to hostile airspace without detection. Onboard Auterion AI autopilot combines Teledyne FLIR electro-optical and infrared sensors with NVIDIA processors to track, identify, and engage airborne threats in real time.

Its internal weapons bay and external hardpoints allow for a wide range of armaments, including short-range air-to-air missiles, micro-missiles, fragmentation projectiles, and even precision-guided munitions for use against surface or maritime drone threats. Optional mission packages enable it to neutralize not just aerial UAVs, but also unmanned boats or ground-based systems.

Intelligent Swarm Operations

One of CobraJet’s most advanced features is its ability to operate as part of an autonomous drone swarm. Multiple units can share sensor data, coordinate interceptions, and carry out complex maneuvers to overwhelm incoming drone attacks. Its SmartVision navigation system—enhanced with anti-jamming and visual geolocation—ensures operational capability even in GPS-denied environments.

Control is handled via SkyDefense’s VRAM (Visual Realtime Area Monitoring) system, which supports both fully autonomous missions and human-in-the-loop engagement for critical targeting decisions. The system’s secure, low-latency communications mean operators can issue commands and receive live video feeds with minimal delay.

Operational Advantages

CobraJet addresses one of the biggest problems in modern air defense: the cost imbalance between high-value missile interceptors and low-cost hostile drones. Traditional ground-based systems are often too slow, expensive, or ill-suited to counter small UAV swarms. CobraJet, by contrast, offers fast reaction times, reusability, and a low cost-per-intercept, making it ideal for protecting:

• Airports, power plants, and government buildings from drone incursions

• Border regions against smuggling or surveillance UAVs

• Forward operating bases and mobile military units from reconnaissance

• Naval vessels in littoral or contested waters

It can be deployed in urban environments, along sensitive borders, or on the battlefield to deny enemy reconnaissance and strike capabilities.

Global Context and Market Impact

The unveiling comes as military analysts warn of a drone warfare revolution, with lessons drawn from conflicts like Ukraine showing how small, inexpensive UAVs can cause outsized damage. This has fueled a surge in demand for scalable, AI-driven counter-drone solutions capable of engaging multiple threats in quick succession.

SkyDefense says CobraJet squadrons could be scaled up for national air defense grids or configured for mobile expeditionary missions, with VRAM control units integrated into tactical or armored vehicles for rapid redeployment. Full operational testing at the Pendleton UAS Test Site is scheduled later this year, with live-fire scenarios planned to validate performance against fast-moving and evasive aerial targets.

SkyDefense President Nick Verini emphasized that the system is designed to counter both lone UAV incursions and coordinated swarm attacks, giving armed forces and security agencies a versatile, future-ready tool for an evolving threat landscape.

With the CobraJet, SkyDefense is positioning itself at the forefront of a growing defense market where speed, AI autonomy, and adaptability will define the next generation of aerial security systems.