Solution Found to Counter Jet Drones: Ukraine’s New Air Defense and Plans for Crimea
In a conversation with Igor Gavrashchak, military expert Roman Svitan analyzed the radical shift in approaches to defending Ukrainian airspace. Thanks to serial production supported by Germany, this multi-layered network will make it possible to effectively and cost-efficiently destroy enemy targets while they are still approaching.
Russia is trying to overwhelm Ukraine’s air defense system with massive drone attacks, but Ukraine is looking for a way to change the rules of this battle. The new approach involves not only low-cost interception capabilities but also strikes against Russian logistics, particularly in occupied Crimea.
Military expert and reserve Colonel Roman Svitan explained in an interview with Channel 24 how the new three-tier air defense system might work and why the destruction of energy infrastructure in Crimea and the occupied territories has a direct impact on Russian military logistics.
Three-tier interception architecture
The new air defense concept is based on three main components, each responsible for its own range and type of targets. The first and least expensive line of defense is machine-gun turrets equipped with artificial intelligence systems. They are capable of automatically acquiring and tracking targets and providing covering fire at ranges of one to one and a half kilometers. Artificial intelligence handles complex trajectory calculations, minimizing the human factor and significantly increasing strike accuracy.
The second tier consists of interceptor drones. They are a cost-effective means of destroying slow-moving targets at medium ranges.
However, the main innovation lies in the third tier – the development and mass production of inexpensive short-range anti-aircraft missiles. The cost of such a missile will be several thousand dollars, making its use entirely cost-effective against any Russian drone, including jet-powered variants.
The key idea behind the new strategy is to move away from stationary posts in favor of highly mobile, next-generation fire teams.
Launchers for the new low-cost missiles are planned to be mounted on standard cargo trucks. These mobile platforms will operate within a unified information network with machine-gun turrets, utilizing shared guidance and radar tracking systems.
This synergy will allow the mobile unit’s operational range to be expanded from 1.5 kilometers to 10–12 kilometers in range and up to 7–9 kilometers in altitude.
Deploying a network of such systems along the front line will create a continuous barrier – a frontline air defense system that will physically prevent Russian drones from crossing the front line and penetrating deep into Ukraine’s rear areas.
The transition to a frontline air defense system based on mobile platforms and low-cost missiles addresses several strategic objectives at once.
First, it takes the strain off expensive Western systems, preserving their missiles for intercepting ballistic threats.
Second, it protects Ukrainian cities, as enemy drones will be intercepted far beyond their borders. The launch of mass production of these systems in the coming months will mark a turning point in the air war, ultimately neutralizing the enemy’s reliance on massive drone attacks.
How the upgraded air defense system works: watch the video
German support and modernization of the existing arsenal
Implementing such a large-scale project requires substantial manufacturing capacity. Involving German partners in the mass production of low-cost anti-aircraft missiles ensures the necessary supply volumes. German industry is capable of ensuring mass production of these weapons, which will allow the front lines to be quickly supplied with the necessary amount of ammunition.
In parallel with the development of new systems, the Ukrainian Air Force is successfully adapting its existing arsenal. A prime example is the use of old but reliable R-60 air-to-air missiles with infrared seeker heads on MiG-29 fighters.
These missiles, whose seeker heads were originally developed by Ukrainian specialists, are undergoing modernization to convert the analog signal to digital.
Although the R-60 may not be maneuverable enough for modern air-to-air combat against fighter jets, it is ideally suited for destroying straight-flying targets, such as jet kamikaze drones. Having thousands of such missiles in stock provides the Ukrainian Air Force with a powerful and inexpensive tool for clearing the skies.
Asymmetric Response: Strikes Against Russian Logistics
In addition to building a defensive shield, Ukraine’s strategy involves the systematic destruction of the enemy’s logistical capabilities. The Unmanned Systems Forces are proving highly effective, methodically targeting energy infrastructure in the temporarily occupied territories.
The destruction of dozens of energy facilities in Crimea, Donetsk Oblast, and Zaporizhzhia has a clear military objective – to paralyze the occupiers’ rail logistics. The shutdown of electric rail service is forcing the Russians to switch to diesel locomotives, which become the next targets along with diesel fuel reserves.
These strikes take on particular significance against the backdrop of the fall escalation on the front lines, as Russian troops attempt to increase the movement of armored vehicles. Fire control over the roads has already forced the occupiers to restrict the movement of military convoys.
The next logical step is to scale up these strikes to target territory within Russia itself, specifically oil refineries and port infrastructure. This not only undermines Moscow’s ability to finance the war but also serves as a preventive measure against massive missile attacks.