Ukraine adds first domestically made jet-powered drone interceptor to defense arsenal
Ukraine’s Defense Forces have added the country’s first domestically produced jet-powered drone interceptor, Alexa Spatium, to their arsenal, the Defense Ministry said.
The interceptor is designed primarily to destroy Russian attack drones, including the jet-powered Geran-3, Geran-4 and Geran-5, as well as Shahed-131 drones. The ministry says it can also target reconnaissance drones, helicopters and other aerial threats.
Measuring 1.5 by 1.7 meters (4.9 by 5.6 feet), Alexa Spatium is powered by a turbojet engine and built from high-strength composite materials designed to withstand sharp maneuvers.
The drone can be launched from a mobile catapult within minutes, while the entire system can be transported in the bed of a pickup truck.
Depending on its target, the interceptor can carry fragmentation, shaped-charge or thermobaric warheads. It is equipped with television and infrared targeting systems and a communications link for remote control.
Unlike one-way attack drones, Alexa Spatium can return to its launch point if it fails to find or engage a target, allowing it to be launched again.
The Defense Ministry said the interceptor confirmed its stated capabilities during testing.
Since the beginning of 2026, the ministry has codified and approved 413 unmanned aircraft systems for use by Ukraine’s Defense Forces. Nearly all of them are Ukrainian-made.
- Share: