Zelenskyy Announced New Prototypes of Weapons to Counter "Shahed" Drones
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine has identified the first prototypes of weapons intended for use against Russian “Shahed” drones. Ukraine is also preparing new shipments for F-16 fighter jets by the end of the year, and plans for long-range operations have already been approved for October.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held discussions with the Ministry of Defense and military officials involved in planning the production of Ukrainian weapons. Following the meeting, several priorities were identified, including strengthening the air force and developing countermeasures against Russian “Shahed” drones.
According to Zelenskyy, Ukraine has already approved long-range operations for October. “First: we have approved our long-range operations for October,” the president said. They also discussed the needs of the Ukrainian Air Force, specifically regarding supplies for F-16 fighter jets by the end of the year. “We have identified the areas for the necessary supplies for our F-16s by the end of the year. There are specific countries with which we are negotiating specific aviation packages. We will see an increase in the near future,” Zelenskyy stated.
On the same day, the president announced a specific agreement with Belgium. The country is to transfer three F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine by the end of 2026. According to Zelenskyy, the transfer is planned to take place under an expedited procedure. Ukraine has also already received urgent deliveries of ammunition for these aircraft from Belgium and other partners, including Spain.
Another issue concerned Russian drones, which have become faster after being fitted with jet engines. Ukraine is working on specific systems designed to intercept such targets. Zelenskyy stated that during the conversation, they identified the first prototypes of weapons designed to counter jet-powered “Shaheds.” “There are clear deadlines, funding, and production volumes that must be secured for the manufacture of this specific weapon. We are also working on additional defensive technological solutions and a greater number of effective interceptors,” said the head of state.
However, work on such systems did not begin today. As early as September 3, Zelenskyy reported that Ukrainian manufacturers had already created prototypes of high-speed interceptors for “Shahed” drones. At that time, he noted that they still needed to be refined and brought up to the required level of effectiveness.
Later, on September 25, the results of tests on these interceptors were discussed at a meeting of the General Staff. Military officials reported on the success rate in shooting down Russian jet drones and the experience of the teams tasked with intercepting them. Following the meeting, they identified the key systems that could strengthen Ukraine’s air defense and decided to accelerate their production.
In other words, the focus is no longer merely on developing individual prototypes. Ukrainian authorities are now discussing a transition to scaling up production and increasing the number of such systems. Earlier, Zelenskyy explained that high-speed “Shahed” drones had become a particular challenge for Ukraine’s air defense. That is precisely why Ukraine is seeking systems capable of catching up with and destroying such drones. In September, the president also directed efforts to accelerate the production of high-speed interceptors and involve Ukrainian businesses in this effort.
According to the Office of the President, Ukraine is simultaneously working on other technologies to defend its airspace. In particular, discussions at the General Staff Headquarters focused on increasing the number of effective interceptors and the possibility of manufacturing various types of jet engines in Ukraine. Thus, Ukraine expects to strengthen its capabilities in several areas in the near future. This includes fighter aviation, the production of systems to intercept “Shahed” drones, and preparations for new long-range operations.
At the same time, the exact specifications of the new weapons, their names, and the planned production quantities have not been publicly disclosed. All that is known at this time is that prototypes have already been built and are being tested, and the government has set the timeline and scale for further production. This information comes from a statement by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Since August 27, 235 air raid alerts have been recorded in Kyiv, lasting a total of 261 hours—more than 10 days. National Security and Defense Council Secretary Ihor Klymenko stated that the intensity of Russian attacks has become a new challenge for Ukraine’s air defense forces. According to him, new Ukrainian interceptors are already undergoing testing, and some combat units are using them in the field. Ukraine is preparing to move to mass production of these systems.
