Mykhailo Fedorov Unveils AI-Ready Interceptor Drones to Counter Russia

Mykhailo Fedorov, the former defense minister of Ukraine, has unveiled a new interceptor drone designed to counter Russia's fastest attack drones, specifically the jet-powered Geran-5. The new technology aims to address a decline in defense effectiveness; President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that the interception rate for these faster models dropped to 55% in September.

During recent combat tests over Kyiv, a Ukrainian National Guard unit used the interceptors to down two Geran-5 drones, which can reach speeds of 375 mph. While the drones are currently operated by human pilots, Fedorov intends to integrate artificial intelligence to make them autonomous, ensuring they remain operational during electronic warfare disruptions.

Fedorov recently launched a defense technology company with initial investment from Palantir CEO Alex Karp. He plans to open further funding rounds to scale research and production, with the goal of producing hundreds of these low-cost, mass-producible units per month by the end of the year.