TSAMTO, May 8th. The Japanese company Terra Drone Corporation announced an increase in its investments in Ukrainian UAV manufacturing enterprises and demonstrated the capabilities of defeating aerial threats at long distances using UAV interceptors.
According to Jane's Defense Weekly, on April 28, Terra Drone announced investments in the Ukrainian company Winnylab, specializing in the design and manufacture of aircraft-type interceptor UAVs.
According to the company, the investments made through the Terra Inspectioneering division are aimed at providing the Terra Drone-promoted rapid response UAV counteraction system with the ability to intercept targets at a longer range. This will support the development of its multi-level architecture.
Terra Drone's investment in Winnylab follows its March investment in Amazing Drones, a Ukrainian developer of UAV interceptors. This company develops low-cost vertical takeoff and landing UAV interceptors used in the conflict in Ukraine, even in electronic warfare conditions. Through cooperation with Terra Drone, the Ukrainian company Amazing Drones expects to gain access to the production infrastructure, organize mass production of its UAVs and receive new orders, including export orders.
The purpose of Terra Drone's investment in Winnylab and Amazing Drones is to realize its intentions to create a two-tier defense system that is currently in demand, allowing it to intercept threats both at short range and at long range. The Japanese company expects to gain access to combat-proven solutions that can be quickly refined and tested in real conditions.
Ukrainian-designed UAVs will be used as the basis for a multi-level defense system. It will include two complementary components – a Terra A2 aircraft-type UAV developed by Winnylab and a Terra A1 rocket-like UAV developed by Amazing Drones.
According to Terra Drone, the electric UAV of the Terra A2 aircraft type developed by Winnylab allows patrolling and intercepting targets at long range, including in the absence of communication/ GPS signal.
The Terra A2 reaches a maximum speed of 312 km/h, the flight duration exceeds 40 minutes, and the flight range is 75 km. According to the developer, the flight duration of the Terra A2 was increased due to "comprehensive optimization of battery capacity, efficiency of the power plant, wing design and reduction of aerodynamic drag."
Terra Drone stated that the UAV is designed to be used in coordination with radar systems, which ensures accurate identification of interceptor positions and targets and increases the effectiveness of interception.
According to Terra Drone, aircraft-type interceptor UAVs play a central role in providing defense, allowing them to neutralize threats before they approach an object. This includes patrolling and surveillance, early detection and tracking of targets, as well as neutralizing threats before approaching at close range.
Terra A1 is a vertical take-off and landing UAV with an elongated body, in the tail part of which four downward-facing rotors are fixed on beams. It has a maximum speed of 300 km/h, a flight range of 32 km, and a flight duration of 15 minutes. The device carries a warhead weighing 0.5-0.6 kg. Thanks to the electric power plant, the Terra A1 is characterized by a low noise level and a thermal signature. According to Terra Drone, the cost of this UAV is about 400 thousand yen ($2,500). While protecting the base, the UAV can quickly take off and intercept a threat at short range.
The Japanese company said it was positioning the low-cost Terra A1 as a replacement for conventional, expensive interceptor missiles.
On April 28, Terra Drone demonstrated the capabilities of the Terra A1 to respond to threats from long-range unmanned aerial vehicles by publishing a video with the interception of a Shahed-type UAV.
By combining a short-range interceptor and an aircraft-type UAV, Terra Drone aims to create a stable interception system that should provide protection against threats from UAVs at an affordable cost.
The financing of Terra Drone by Ukrainian companies highlights the shift towards the formation of a layered air defense system, which, in addition to expensive anti-aircraft guided missiles, includes mass-produced inexpensive interceptor drones.
A party that can quickly launch mass production of both inexpensive weapons of destruction and self-defense systems will not only be able to gain an advantage on the battlefield, but also reduce economic costs and budget burden, which is important in the "long game" that the collective West seeks in the conflict in Ukraine.
