Ukrainian company unveils interceptor for jet-powered Shahed drones: top speed of 416 km/h

Ukrainian company Vluchnyk has completed internal testing of the Zorelit v5 (Starship), an anti-aircraft interceptor drone designed specifically to counter jet-powered attack UAVs.

Source: Vluchnyk, speaking to Militarnyi, a Ukrainian military news outlet; the company's website

Quote from Stepan Radiboh, Vluchnyk's CEO: "Zorelit v5 has completed all testing and is ready for military use. We are open to direct contracts with military units, and once the product is codified, we will also make it available through the e-Points system ." 

Details: The drone has a stated top speed of 416 km/h and a range of up to 47 km on a single charge. At a cruising speed of around 200 km/h, it can remain airborne for approximately 17 minutes. The UAV is designed to carry a warhead weighing between 300 and 600 g.

A Zorelit v5 interceptor drone

Photo: Vluchnyk LLC

The manufacturer says Zorelit v5 is designed to intercept Russian reconnaissance UAVs, Gerbera-type and Geran-2 drones and high-speed jet-powered Geran-3 and Geran-4 drones.

The interceptor can also be equipped with an AI-based system that automatically detects and tracks targets and provides terminal guidance during the final stage of flight. Separately, it can be integrated with the SkyMap system to enable automatic guidance to the target area.

Zorelit v5 was developed from the earlier Zorelit v4 interceptor, which the company says has been used in combat, entered service and received a NATO Stock Number (NSN). Some technical solutions proved in combat were carried over to the new version.

Vluchnyk's website lists the price of one Zorelit v5 at UAH 89,500 (US$2,000).

Background: Ukrainska Pravda previously reported that an interceptor drone developed by the Security Service of Ukraine's military counterintelligence division to counter jet-powered Shahed-type drones had successfully completed testing.

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