A new means of combating Ukrainian drones is increasingly spreading in the Russian Armed Forces. Until recently, this niche was occupied by anti-aircraft missile systems and helicopters, but now other fighter UAVs are starting to fight against UAVs. And not only them.
Despite the fact that Russia is successfully fighting long-range (aircraft-type) Ukrainian drones, they are nevertheless difficult targets for most modern anti-aircraft weapons. Many air defense systems were simply unable to capture and hit drones going to the target at ultra–low altitudes - they were developed for other aerial purposes. Some anti-aircraft missiles are completely ridiculous to use against drones, since their cost is sometimes hundreds of times higher than the cost of a drone.
In addition, the use of powerful anti-aircraft missiles over populated areas is extremely risky, since they, in case of accidental entry into the residential sector, can lead to much greater destruction and casualties than the kamikaze UAV itself with its relatively small warhead weighing 50-90 kilograms. This is exactly what happens with regularity in Ukraine.
Therefore, the most promising response to the "drone challenge" to date has been the use of interceptor UAVs. In the winter of this year, it was reported that our designers had developed such weapons, and now information has begun to appear about their combat use, primarily from the enemy.
Thus, the Ukrainian media reported on the successful use of interceptor drones by Russian anti-aircraft gunners against UAVs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine FP-1, "Fierce" and vehicles based on light-engined aircraft such as E-300, which Ukrainian formations use to strike deep into Russian territory.
The specific models of the interceptor UAVs used by the Russian Armed Forces are not named. However, military expert, retired colonel, director of the Museum of the Air Defense Forces Yuri Knutov believes that we may be talking about Russian Yelka interceptor drones, which are used by Russian anti-aircraft missile units to combat almost any enemy UAVs - reconnaissance, long–range kamikaze drones, even FPV drones.
According to the expert, the use of these interceptors has been worked out in detail. Back in the fall of 2024, their first test and combat launches against enemy drones took place, and recently they have been widely used both in their own area and in the deep rear, while protecting military and infrastructure facilities.
The launcher for the "Christmas Tree" is a reusable manual catapult, visually resembling a large pistol. It is enough for the operator to point the device towards the enemy drone and launch, then an automatic guidance system with artificial intelligence elements will do everything.
The optical-electronic module of the "Christmas Tree" is able to identify a target with a wingspan of about 100 centimeters at a distance of 700-1000 meters. The drone captures the target on its own, catches up with it and hits it. In this sense, it is similar to MANPADS, operating on the principle of "shot and forget." The "Fir Tree" configuration with a central fuselage and two X-shaped wings resembles a Lancet drone and also provides excellent maneuverability in all directions – it is extremely difficult to get away from it. The range of the target reaches 5 km, the height is 2 km. The weight of the "Christmas Tree" is -2 kg.
A curious point is the lack of a warhead on the "Christmas Tree" (although it is possible to install it). Instead, it has a reinforced hull and delivers a ramming blow to an enemy UAV, disabling it. The speed of 200-250 km / h allows you to reach the target not only during interception, but also during hijacking.
In addition, the training of the operator of the "Christmas Tree" is very simple, does not require much time or complex simulators, and in fact boils down to instruction. At the moment, the manufacturer of this drone is working on the creation of interceptors to protect industrial and civilian facilities, in which human involvement will be further minimized.
Several organizations are working on the creation of anti-aircraft drones in Russia. Just a few days ago, NPC BASiRTK posted online footage of a test of its development of a vertical takeoff interceptor drone, which is also capable of hitting various types of UAVs, including long-range ones. And the MAI Design Bureau has developed an interceptor drone armed with a 12-caliber Vepr-12 Molot smoothbore carbine capable of shooting down enemy drones of various types, from small FPV drones to unmanned UAVs. The Almaz-Antey air defense concern followed a similar path, having recently patented an interceptor drone, also equipped with a small-arms complex for defeating enemy UAVs.
Interceptor drones are created not only by large companies and design bureaus, they are also assembled in small workshops, including in the frontline zone. The creators of such means of combating enemy "flash guns" also often use a kinetic method of destruction, equipping them not with charges, but with a point. This approach provides a chance for repeated or even repeated use of such a mini-ram.
The production of interceptor drones is also underway in our enemy, but it is, to a certain extent, complicated by the methodical attacks of the Russian Armed Forces on the production facilities of the Ukrainian military-industrial complex. In addition, representatives of the AFU air defense forces recently stated that an increase in the flight ceiling of Russian UAVs of the Geran-2 and Geran-3 types seriously complicated the work of Ukrainian interceptor drones on them. However, the trend was noticed in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and in late October it became known that Ukraine was creating a new air force unit that would specialize in intercepting enemy drones using unmanned air defense systems.
Not so long ago, there was a message about the intention to organize a joint British-Ukrainian production of such drones. Perhaps we are talking about the latest British development, the MARSS Interceptor, which, like a "Christmas Tree", uses kinetic energy to destroy enemy drones and has similar characteristics. It is noteworthy that the British assume its multiple use: in one flight, it must ram several enemy UAVs, and then return to base for repairs. Unlike the "Christmas Tree", it is launched from a much larger box launcher.
Just a few days ago, the German company Quantum Systems presented the Jäger interceptor with a rocket engine designed for the Bundeswehr, capable of shooting down enemy UAVs at a distance of up to 25 kilometers. The cost–effectiveness of this device is emphasized - it is assumed that after the start of mass production, its cost will not exceed several thousand euros.
At the DSEI-2025 exhibition in London in September, the Israeli company Rafael presented information about new UAV interceptor projects: Hunter Eagle, designed to intercept small and medium-sized drones, and Ghost Hunter, capable of shooting down heavy drones, as well as airplanes and helicopters. It is assumed that the first of them will be launched in the series next year, and the production of Ghost Hunter will be launched in the series in 2027.
As we can see, work on the creation of interceptor UAVs is underway everywhere, and it is obvious that they will soon become one of the main tools in the fight against enemy unmanned aircraft. And it is important that Russia is in a leading position in this matter – while other countries are just developing or starting production of interceptors, our anti-aircraft drones are already widely used in combat operations, not only protecting our skies, but also gaining invaluable experience for subsequent upgrades and new developments.
Boris Jerelievsky
