Ukraine Deploys AI-Powered Turrets to Counter Fiber-Optic Drones

An AI-powered turret developed through the Brave1 defense cluster is now operational in combat, according to Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. The system autonomously detects and tracks enemy drones, requiring only a single button press from an operator to confirm the strike. Crucially, the technology can intercept drones controlled via fiber-optic cables, which are invulnerable to electronic warfare (EW). First utilized by the K-2 Brigade, the turrets are now active in over ten units across key sectors of the frontline. Make us preferred on Google Flip Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied A screenshot from a video showing an AI-powered turret designed to intercept Russian drones, developed by a member of the Brave1 cluster. (Photo by Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov/Facebook) Content Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Flip Make us preferred on Google An AI -powered turret developed by a member of the Brave1 defense cluster has reached the battlefield, providing a high-tech solution to Russia’s increasingly sophisticated drone tactics. Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov released footage on Saturday, May 9, showing the system’s real-time combat performance against Russian UAVs. Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official . “For the first time on video – the real combat work of the turret against enemy drones,” Fedorov stated, noting that cooperation between Brave1 and the military allowed the project to move from “drawings to the front in the shortest possible time”. As Russia continues to intensify drone strikes along the line of contact and in frontline cities, Ukraine is rapidly expanding its “small” air defense capabilities. The new AI turret offers a significant tactical advantage by autonomously identifying, tracking, and calculating the flight paths of incoming targets. A key feature of the system is its ability to destroy fiber-optic drones. These specific Russian UAVs are immune to standard electronic warfare (EW) jamming because they do not rely on radio frequencies for control. The AI turret bypasses this defense by using automated optical tracking to guide its fire. The technology was first field-tested by the K-2 Brigade and is currently deployed with more than ten different units on critical fronts. Fedorov emphasized that the next step is “scaling the solution” to reinforce the broader air defense network. Other Topics of Interest Putin Claims ‘Victory’ at Diminished Red Square Parade Featuring North Korean Troops Vladimir Putin delivered a defiant speech at Moscow’s Victory Day parade on Saturday, May 9, claiming Russia would “win” its war against Ukraine despite a wave of successful Ukrainian strikes deep behind Russian lines. The parade was a significantly scaled-back 45-minute event, featuring no military hardware for the first time in nearly two decades and restricted by mobile internet shutdowns. Notably, a column of North Korean troops who previously fought in Russia’s Kursk region marched through Red Square. Evolution of the drone war The deployment of AI turrets comes as Ukraine achieves other significant milestones in unmanned warfare. Recently, the “Wild Hornets” drone manufacturer confirmed the interception of a Russian Geran-4 jet-powered drone – a high-speed upgrade of previous models – using a remote-control system. Additionally, Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) recently achieved a world-first by launching an interceptor drone from an unmanned surface platform to down a Shahed-type UAV at sea . These integrated technological layers are proving vital, as President Volodymyr Zelensky noted that Ukraine maintained a roughly 90% interception rate against Russian drones throughout late April. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization since 1995. Its international market reach of 97% outside of Ukraine makes it truly Ukraine’s Global – and most reliable – Voice.