Canada Supports Ukrainian Helicopter Upgrades to Counter Shahed Drones

Canada is assisting Ukraine in modernizing helicopters to intercept Shahed-type loitering munitions, according to Oleksandr Syrsky, Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief.

Speaking to reporters during a press meeting attended by Militarnyi correspondents, Syrsky shared that Ukrainian army aviation units are effectively engaging Shahed drones and are involved in such missions daily.

He noted that Ukraine is scaling up this capability and working with international partners, particularly in Canada.

Canadian companies are supplying modern equipment to upgrade helicopters and enhance their combat capabilities.

These upgrades focus primarily on optical surveillance and targeting systems.

“We are expanding this capability. We’ve established cooperation with partners — primarily Canadian — who are helping us obtain advanced surveillance and targeting systems that boost the combat performance of our helicopters,” Syrsky said.

Canada is a global leader in military-grade optical systems. WESCAM, a Canadian manufacturer, supplies advanced imaging equipment to major drone producers such as Baykar Makina and General Atomics.

In addition to hardware transfers, Germany and Canada recently agreed to jointly fund the production of Ukrainian-made interceptor drones designed to counter Shaheds, positioning Canada as a key investor in Ukraine’s drone defense initiatives.

Beyond helicopters, Ukraine has also used light aircraft in drone interception operations. In April 2024, a Yak-52 piston trainer aircraft shot down a Russian reconnaissance drone over the Odesa region.

Russia has adopted a similar approach, modifying Yak-52 aircraft into light-attack versions known as Yak-52B2 for drone interception. These upgraded aircraft can carry up to 90 kg of payload under each wing and are outfitted with circular radar and a 12-gauge semi-automatic shotgun for destroying drones.