Ukraine's former defense minister launches company to develop low-cost missiles against Russian drones

The company, Mission Defense Partners (MDP), was created using an existing civilian drone manufacturing operation that previously supplied equipment to Lasar's Group, Yelizarov told Ukrainian technology outlet DOU in an interview published on November 11.

One of its main ambitions is to develop an all-weather missile capable of intercepting Russian Shahed-type attack drones at a target price of $20,000–$25,000 per missile.

"Our task is to develop an all-weather missile to destroy Shaheds," Yelizarov said. "It is fundamentally important that it be inexpensive."

He said the missile should remain effective in fog, rain and strong winds.

The project is intended to address a major challenge for Ukrainian air defenses: finding affordable ways to intercept large numbers of Russian attack drones without relying exclusively on more expensive air defense missiles.

Yelizarov also identified a shortage of domestically developed short-range missiles equipped with radar-guided seekers as a gap in Ukraine's defense capabilities.

No completed missile, successful test or production timeline was announced in the interview. The proposed $20,000–$25,000 figure is a development target, not a confirmed production cost.

Existing production and international ambitions

Mission Defense Partners has three partners, Yelizarov said. He owns approximately one-third of the company, Fedorov is another partner, and the third partner's identity has not been disclosed.

The manufacturing operation on which the new company is based employs up to 1,000 civilian workers, according to Yelizarov.

He said the facility currently uses only about 30% of its production capacity and argued that the remaining capacity could support exports to allied countries if Ukraine simplified its defense export procedures.

Beyond missiles, MDP intends to develop technologies for guiding drones toward targets in flight, air defense systems, software and artificial intelligence applications.

Some of the resulting technologies could eventually be integrated into Lasar's Group's military operations.

The company also plans to invest in Ukrainian defense startups and seek international technology partnerships.

Yelizarov said Fedorov had held discussions with US technology company Palantir about potential funding for Ukrainian startups through an investment program.

However, he stressed that no final agreements had been signed and no funding had been confirmed.

Fedorov served as Ukraine's defense minister from January until July 2026. Yelizarov previously served as a deputy commander of the Ukrainian Air Force, where he worked on short-range air defense.

Both left their positions in July and have since pursued defense technology projects outside government and military service.