Ukraine tests new interceptor designed to hunt Russia's jet-powered drones
Ukrainian defense company Vluchnyk says it has completed internal testing of a new interceptor drone designed to target fast-moving Russian drones, including jet-powered variants.
The Zorelit v5 reached a stated maximum speed of 416 km/h (258 mph) during testing and has a range of up to 47 kilometers (29 miles), according to the manufacturer.
The company says the interceptor is designed to engage aerial targets traveling at speeds of 300–350 km/h (186–217 mph), including Russian reconnaissance drones, Gerbera decoys, Geran-2 attack drones, and the newer jet-powered Geran-3 and Geran-4 variants.
At a cruising speed of about 200 km/h (124 mph), the Zorelit v5 can remain airborne for approximately 17 minutes. It is designed to carry a warhead weighing between 300 and 600 grams.
The interceptor can also be equipped with an AI-assisted system for automatically detecting and highlighting targets, as well as automatic terminal guidance during the final stage of an interception.
Vluchnyk director Stepan Radiboh said the drone had completed a full cycle of internal testing and was ready to be supplied to Ukrainian military units through direct contracts. The company also plans to make it available through Ukraine's military procurement system after it receives official codification.
The Zorelit v5 is based on the company's earlier v4 interceptor. Vluchnyk says that version has already been used successfully in combat and officially entered service with Ukraine's military.