Ukraine is testing AI-powered interceptor drones to combat ‘Shaheds’
At a test site in central Ukraine, SkyFall demonstrated the P1-Sun Long interceptor drone, equipped with an artificial intelligence system. A lightweight replica of the Russian Shahed drone was used as a target during the tests.
According to the manufacturer, the system was trained using over 10,000 video recordings of real-life interceptions of Shahed-type drones. The company notes that since November, the interceptor drones have carried out dozens of interceptions using artificial intelligence elements out of thousands of operations performed in total, reports the NY Times.
During the demonstration, the operator controlled the drone during the initial phase of the flight. The artificial intelligence system independently detected the target and marked it on the screen. Upon approaching the target, the operator activated automatic tracking mode, whilst the final decision to engage remained with the human operator.
Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation had previously reported that one of the companies participating in the Brave1 programme had developed technology that automates up to 95 per cent of the interception process. Once the operator has confirmed the target, the system autonomously tracks the drone, identifies it and directs the interceptor towards the target.
SkyFall is also testing solutions that could enable interceptors to be launched following the automatic detection of a threat by radar. In the long term, this will allow a single operator to oversee several missions simultaneously.
In addition to combating aerial targets, the company is testing the use of artificial intelligence to detect ground vehicles and people. During demonstration tests, the system automatically tracked vehicles and identified people on the ground, awaiting further commands from the operator.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has previously emphasised that the development of autonomous systems brings both new opportunities and risks. At the same time, Ukrainian developers and military personnel stress that the final decision on the use of force must remain with a human.
