Advantages and Challenges of Ukraine’s Air Defense in Combating «Shahed» Suicide Drones
In today’s combat environment, Ukraine’s air defense faces new challenges, notably the massive deployment of kamikaze drones «Shahed», which have become a primary tool of Russian aggression.
Aviation experts explain that destroying a single drone requires the deployment of at least five to six interceptors.
This shift significantly alters Ukraine’s air defense tactics, as previously, eliminating similar targets demanded fewer resources.
Between June and July, Russian forces produced about 2,700 «Shahed» drones monthly, roughly 90 per day.
Over time, this number increased to nearly 4,000 per month, and by the end of the year, Ukrainian authorities forecast a production rate of up to 6,000 drones monthly—around 200 daily.
Experts acknowledge that Ukrainian interception systems are becoming more effective: in particular, the «Sting» drone—an compact semi-automatic system—demonstrates promising results at the frontline, especially in combat zones where traditional air defense methods are less effective.
Most of these drones are based near cities, occasionally allowing «Shahed» attacks in other districts.
However, recent incidents of enemy drone flights over populated areas have become less frequent.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently stated that kamikaze drones now pose a threat sometimes greater than ballistic missiles, as their destruction requires the full arsenal of anti-aircraft systems—fighters, helicopters, and intercepting drones—whose effectiveness heavily depends on weather conditions.