Ukraine Receives Drone Interceptors to Counter Iranian Attacks

Ukraine Deploys Drone Interceptors to Jordan Amid Ongoing Conflict

A Ukrainian team has departed for Jordan, following a request from the United States, to provide assistance in intercepting Iranian-made Shahed drones targeting US and Israeli military assets in the region. The move comes as Middle Eastern countries face increased threats from Iranian strikes on infrastructure.

The US has been using air defense systems such as Patriot missiles, THAAD batteries, and AWACS aircraft to counter the Iranian drone threat. However, these systems are expensive, with each interceptor missile costing millions of dollars. Iran has deployed its own Shahed drones across the Gulf, which it has also supplied to Russia during Moscow’s war on Ukraine.

Ukraine has developed technology to mass-produce cheaper interceptor drones, known as “Shahed Killers,” to counter drone swarm attacks from Russia. These drones are priced at around $1,000 to $2,000 each and have been successful in downing Russian attack drones. Ukrainian manufacturers produce thousands of them per month.

The US has sought Ukraine’s help in deploying these drones due to concerns about supplies of US interceptor missiles running low. Iran is believed to have thousands of Shahed drones in stock, which it uses to target its neighbors as well as the US and Israel. The deployment of Ukrainian drone interceptors marks a significant development in the ongoing conflict.

Eleven countries, including the US, Gulf, and European nations, have requested Ukraine’s assistance in this matter. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed that concrete decisions and specific support have been provided to some requests.

Source: Al Jazeera