Ukraine launches mass production of miniature jet engines for interceptor drones
Andrii Hrytseniuk, head of Ukraine's defense technology cluster Brave1, discussed the progress in an interview with Oborontsi, Rubryka reports.
He said that before the program began, no private Ukrainian company manufactured these engines.
In 2025, Brave1 set up a dedicated program and funded manufacturers. It took more than a year and a half to get production up and running.
Scaling up production of miniature turbojet engines is expected to help Ukraine manufacture more of its new interceptor drones. Brave1 is optimistic about the prospects for supplying these engines.
Ukraine's push to counter Russian jet-powered drones
According to Ukraine's Air Force, Ukrainian forces intercepted only 1,460 Russian jet-powered drones in August. The main challenge was a shortage of air defense missiles and a lack of high-speed interceptors. The interception rate remained relatively low at around 50–55%, occasionally reaching 60% with the help of military aircraft.
In August, Ukraine began combat testing its first jet-powered interceptor drones, designed to take down Russian jet-powered Shahed drones. One of the new Ukrainian aircraft can reach speeds of more than 600 km/h.
Ukraine's air defenses have also received Bars interceptor drones designed to counter jet-powered Shaheds. During one combat deployment, the drones reportedly achieved a 100% success rate. Production is now being scaled up.
In mid-September, two Ukrainian companies completed combat trials of new interceptor drones. During testing, the drones shot down a Russian jet-powered Shahed.
Another Ukrainian interceptor drone went from development to its first confirmed combat results in just one month. During testing, Ukrainian forces downed two Russian Geran-5 jet-powered drones heading toward Kyiv. Developers now aim to make the interceptor autonomous and expand its use to protect Ukrainian cities.
On October 14, Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat said the interception rate for jet-powered drones had risen from around 60% in September to 76%, based on a large-scale Russian attack that day involving 77 jet-powered drones.
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19 of October 2026
