Ukrainian volunteers have acquired counter-UAV systems to protect energy facilities from Russian drone attacks.

The Ministry of Digital Transformation announced the news on its social media.

It is known that 6 counter-UAV systems have been purchased so far. According to the Ministry of Digital Transformation officials, these are the state-of-the-art defense technologies which protect strategic facilities of the US.

The system consists of radars and signal jamming devices helping detect and block enemy UAVs, as well as its own drones.

The video shows footage of the training of operators of the new system at the landfill. According to the Ministry of Digital Transformation, all six systems are now ready for operation.

Fortem DroneHunter F700 is an autonomous drone included in the system. It is controlled by a radar control system and artificial intelligence.

The drone is capable of flying at speeds of over 100 km/h, intercepting and landing enemy drones with the use of two DrogueNets to capture enemy drones. The system can deliver captured drones to the operator or drop them by parachute.

The drone received a target detection radar and a new adaptation system for faster response during flight.

The control station, radars and signal jamming means of the new system were also showcased.

Shahed Catcher

According to representatives of the Ministry of Digital Transformation, the new system should become a “shahed catcher”, given the priority to counter the Iranian kamikaze drones Shahed-131 and Shahed-136, but it is not yet confirmed whether this is possible.

The purchased systems apply jamming technology to counter UAVs, however, Iranian Shahed-type drones are not controlled by an operator, remaining independent of constant communication.

Shahed-131 and Shahed-136 fly along a given route and hit targets according to predetermined coordinates. The flight is adjusted by satellite navigation of the CRPA type (anti-jam phased array antennas) and the inertial system.

For effective jamming of CRPA receivers, several powerful sources of radio interference are required. However, all UAV electronics are concentrated in their shielded metal housings and radio control is not used on the route, so EW countermeasures have extremely low effectiveness.

It is also proven pointless to use EW against Shahed drones on the route to the target. In the event of suppression, the drone automatically switches to control of the inertial system, which is not sensitive to the influence of obstacles as long as it is within the radius of EW jaming. After that, it restores the exact positioning and route.

In the presentation of its product, the manufacturer states the system is primarily focused on countering small drones and quadcopters such as the DJI Mavic, etc.