Ukraine has begun mass production of new interceptor drones developed in the country to strengthen its air defense system, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry reported, quoted by Reuters.
As the fourth anniversary of the start of the war approaches, Ukrainian cities and towns far from the front line are almost daily targets of hundreds of Russian drone attacks. In the latest incident, the Russian army used 430 drones, according to Ukrainian officials.
The Defense Ministry specified that the first three production lines have already started work, and 11 more are preparing to start. The drones use Ukrainian technology "Octopus", with the interceptor drones "Shahed" have already been tested on the battlefield and have proven their effectiveness “at night, in jamming and at low altitudes“.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the goal is for Ukraine to produce up to 1,000 drones per day.
Russia is also making significant investments in the development and production of long-range drones and is steadily increasing the number of unmanned aerial vehicles used in attacks on Ukraine.
The interceptor drones, each costing several thousand dollars, are particularly valuable to Ukraine, as they will allow it to preserve more expensive missiles for defense against more intense and deadly strikes by cruise and ballistic missiles.