Defence firms race to counter jet-powered Shaheds
Analysis based on 8 articles · First reported Jul 21, 2026 · Last updated Jul 21, 2026
The increased demand for drone interceptors may boost revenues for defence contractors like Lockheed Martin and MBDA, while smaller Ukrainian drone makers could see growth opportunities. However, the escalating drone warfare underscores the ongoing conflict's strain on defence budgets and highlights the need for cost-effective solutions.
As Russia deploys increasing numbers of faster jet-propelled versions of its Shahed attack drone in Ukraine, several defence companies are racing to develop new high-speed interceptor drones. At the Farnborough International Airshow, Ukrainian manufacturer Skyfall unveiled its P1-SUN Jetkiller interceptor, claiming it has downed over a dozen jet-powered Shaheds in combat and plans mass production in August. Other companies, including Ukraine's Cherry (surname) and British-Ukrainian E&R Engineering, are also developing faster interceptors, with Cherry (surname) aiming for speeds over 400 kph and Firebolt working with Dynamic Propulsion on a new engine. European missile maker MBDA is launching an interceptor for low-cost munitions, while Lockheed Martin announced a lower-cost Patriot interceptor. The jet-powered Shaheds, which can reach 500 kph, reduce Ukraine's detection and response time. Keeping costs low remains a key challenge, as interceptors must be affordable for mass deployment.
Set up alerts, explore entity relationships, search across thousands of events, and build custom intelligence feeds.
Open Dashboard