Ukrainian Skazheny Interceptor With Terminal Guidance Codified for Service

Ukraine’s Defense Ministry has codified and approved the Skazheny (Mad) interceptor drone equipped with a terminal guidance system for service with the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

UV Military Cluster (UVMC), an association of defense manufacturers, told Militarnyi about this.

“We planned the lineup from the outset and codified all the variants as a comprehensive system,” UV Military Cluster said.

The current lineup comprises seven variants: daytime, nighttime, terminal-guidance, analog-video and digital-video versions.

Each of these drone variants comes with a corresponding set of required equipment.

Key specifications:

• maximum speed — 340 km/h;
• maximum altitude — 7,000 m;
• flight endurance — up to 15 minutes;
• payload — 500 g.

The Skazheny’s terminal guidance system has undergone testing, and the first such drones have been delivered to positions in Odesa and Zaporizhzhia regions.

However, the company does not consider this product suitable for intercepting jet-powered drones.

“Unfortunately, we have not yet managed to successfully use a terminal-guidance-equipped drone because lately only jet-powered ‘Shaheds’ have been flying toward Odesa,” UV Military Cluster said.

The interceptors will also be supplied to units near the line of contact, where they will be used to destroy reconnaissance and strike drones.

Visually, the Skazheny resembles other interceptor drones. However, its battery runs through the airframe’s structural frame, allowing the center of gravity to be positioned at the center.

“So, in level flight, the drone flies without its nose raised. This is a real problem in this class of products. It turned out to be highly maneuverable,” the manufacturers said.

The manufacturer has also conducted initial tests of remote control, allowing an operator to control the drone from anywhere.

At the request of the Ukrainian Navy, the drone is being made modular: replacing the lower section changes the communications system, while replacing the front section changes the video system.

UV Military Cluster added that foreign customers have also expressed interest in its interceptors. The company is currently negotiating its first contract.

Militarnyi previously reported that the Skazheny’s estimated production capacity is up to 5,000 units per month, despite the model only now entering the market.