Not just interceptors: expert explains how to counter Russia's reactive drones
Valeriy Borovyk, founder of defense products company First Contact and a combat veteran, stated that Ukraine needs inexpensive means to neutralize enemy reactive drones. He emphasized that Russian attacks on gas stations are a problem that the enemy will expand, and these are not random strikes but chosen targets.
Borovyk stressed that Ukraine currently lacks sufficient means to neutralize the reactive drones Russia is launching. "In response, inexpensive means of neutralization can be used, such as interceptors, i.e., interceptor drones, for example, with jet engines, as well as inexpensive missiles with homing heads," he said.
He also noted the importance of electronic warfare (EW) systems to disrupt drone guidance.
"And it's important to do this now," the expert added.
Borovyk believes Ukraine should have three times more interceptors than Russia launches reactive drones. "How many of these interceptor drones are needed? At least three times more than what flies at us. That is, if 500 reactive drones fly per day, then we need one and a half thousand such interceptors," he said.
He also noted that reactive drones will not only be intercepted by interceptors. Borovyk believes that Ukraine's ability to defend and adapt will depend on several factors. He mentioned the need to rapidly increase the number of interceptor drones, which requires components like engines and target acquisition systems.
The second factor, he added, is increasing the production of inexpensive missiles with homing heads.
Borovyk does not rule out the possibility of new solutions emerging, such as electromagnetic neutralization or lasers. "These are all challenges for which there is no answer today. Such solutions are developed over years, and we want to implement them quickly and ensure their effectiveness," he added.
Russia's Drone Attacks on Ukraine
As previously reported by UNIAN, Oleksandr Musiyenko, a military expert and serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, believes that Russia is attacking Ukraine with reactive drones to create panic, primarily targeting civilian objects. He noted that the current situation is similar to October-November 2022, when Ukraine faced the threat of "Russian-Iranian or Iranian Shaheds" used by Russia. At that time, mobile fire groups and interceptor drones emerged later. He stated that the current situation is similar in that it will take time for more means to intercept this specific type of weaponry to become available.
Musiyenko added that artillery and missile air defense systems are working to shoot down these drones. However, the complexity, especially for Kyiv, lies in the geography and flight path of Russian drones, which pass along the border with Belarus, then along the Kyiv Reservoir and the Dnieper River.
Furthermore, the serviceman noted that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are taking measures to block airspace at drone launch points. Active efforts are also underway to locate storage sites and launch pads for these drones in Russia, particularly in the Bryansk, Oryol, and Rostov regions, from where the enemy launches these drones from the south.
