Ukrainian Alternative to Merops: Dark River Group Unveils APUS Interceptor Drone

The Ukrainian company Dark River Group is developing a new APUS interceptor drone designed to destroy enemy attack and reconnaissance UAVs.

A representative of the developer, Dark River Group, spoke to Militarnyi about the project’s details during the presentation.

The developers position their product as an equivalent to the American AS3 Surveyor interceptor from the Merops system and plan to fully match its functionality by the end of the year.

The new drone is capable of reaching speeds of about 300 km/h and staying airborne for up to 60 minutes, depending on weather conditions.

A distinctive feature of the APUS’s aerodynamic design is the use of a forward horizontal stabilizer (canard) and a reverse-swept wing, which ensures high maneuverability at high speeds.

Currently, the interceptor’s operational radius is limited by the communication range of the ground station and ranges from 40 to 50 km.

The APUS is equipped with a special reflector to increase its effective radar cross-section, allowing radars to detect the drone more easily. It can also operate in GPS-denied environments using radio beacons.

“As soon as the tracker, from a distance of one kilometer or closer, locks onto a target, we can activate the target pursuit and destruction mode,” said a representative of Dark River Group.

The drone is equipped with a warhead weighing between 500 and 800 grams. The company is developing its own standardized warhead and analyzing the military’s needs regarding the use of high-explosive or fragmentation munitions.

A single system comprises a catapult, a remote ground control station with two screens for the pilot and navigator, and 10 drones. System deployment takes 15 minutes, and drone preparation takes up to 5 minutes.

Control is carried out via specialized software that minimizes information overload for the crew and allows for remote firmware and guidance module updates without returning the drones to the factory.

“As of now, 50% of our UAV consists of Ukrainian parts, and we will continue to increase this percentage until we have minimized our dependence on imports as much as possible,” the developer emphasized.

Currently, APUS units are being sent for two-month combat trials with military units, while Dark River Group is simultaneously working on a jet-powered interceptor capable of speeds up to 600 km/h and a flight range of up to 100 km. Its demonstration is planned for November.