Interceptor Drones Destroyed Twice as Many Enemy UAVs in March Compared to February, Says Defense Minister

In March 2023, Ukrainian interceptor drones demonstrated impressive results in the fight against enemy drones, destroying more than 33,000 UAVs of various types. Among these were Shaheds, Gerbirs, Molnias, Zalas, Orlans, and other models. This figure is twice as high as in February, indicating significant progress in Ukraine's air defense capabilities. This information was shared by Ukraine's Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov on his Telegram page.

Fedorov also discussed a recent meeting with manufacturers of interceptor drones, during which crucial issues related to the protection of Ukraine's airspace were addressed. The minister noted that the purpose of the meeting was to receive feedback from the market and determine the next steps to improve the air defense system.

"The key challenge is the reactive Shaheds. The enemy is scaling up their use, the speed is increasing, and interception is becoming more complicated. Our task is to find a technological solution. Together with the manufacturers, we analyzed the products and their readiness, identified bottlenecks, and synchronized actions for rapid scaling," the minister stated.

It is worth noting that the Ukrainian defense innovation cluster Brave1 recently supported 12 technologies as part of a joint grant program with the EU, EU4UA Defence Tech. According to Fedorov, companies will receive up to 150,000 euros for the development of high-speed interceptors capable of moving at speeds of 450 km/h or more, as well as for creating modern systems to counter aerial targets.

"Separately, at the President's request, we discussed systemic issues: contracting for 2026, pilot training, testing grounds, the shortage of ground stations, export, and updating the criteria for assessing effectiveness in the Army of Drones. We are preparing solutions for each problem," the minister emphasized.

During the meeting with drone manufacturers, Fedorov set two key tasks. First, it is necessary to develop and scale technologies for reactive interceptor drones that can effectively counter reactive Shaheds. Second, it is important to create alternative guidance systems that can operate under challenging weather conditions, which is critically important for ensuring the success of air defense operations.