Ukrainian Electronic Warfare Systems Deployed Against Shahed Drones in Middle East

Ukrainian electronic warfare (EW) systems have been used to intercept Iranian Shahed drones in several Middle Eastern countries hosting U.S. military infrastructure.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said this during a briefing while responding to a question from the Financial Times.

He also confirmed for the first time that Ukrainian interceptor drones are being used in the region.

According to thePresident, Ukrainian military units deployed to the Middle East last month have already achieved results in intercepting Iranian strike drones.

“Did we destroy them? Yes, we did,” he said, adding that he had seen video footage of Ukrainian weapons destroying Iranian kamikaze drones.

Ukrainian specialists are helping strengthen air defense in countries that have chosen to cooperate with Ukraine.

“In those countries that have opened their air defense systems to us, our experts were able to very quickly advise how to make these systems stronger,” Zelensky said.

Fighting Shahed Drones

The Ukrainian president also said that advanced domestic technologies have successfully intercepted both older Iranian Shahed drones and upgraded versions that fly faster and are more maneuverable.

“We also shot down drones with jet engines,” he said. Calling this a “very good signal,” Zelensky added that Ukraine can now “begin mass production of interceptors capable of destroying jet-powered drones.”

Meanwhile, the President declined to name the countries where the drones were shot down, citing security reasons.

In March, Ukraine sent more than 200 specialists to Middle Eastern countries, along with domestically produced interceptor drones and electronic warfare systems. These include the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. In total, 11 countries, including the United States, have turned to Ukraine for expertise in countering Iranian UAVs.

Following last week’s visit to the Gulf countries, Zelensky signed 10-year agreements with three states. Under these partnerships, Ukrainian companies will help local militaries protect strategic facilities. Negotiations are currently underway on similar agreements with Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain.