High-speed drone interceptors race to counter Shahed and loitering munition

As kamikaze drones and other low-cost systems become more prevalent on the battlefield, militaries and tech companies are racing to develop innovative solutions that can neutralize these threats quickly and efficiently. 

High-speed interceptor drones are emerging as one of the possible answers in modern air defense, providing a rapid and cost-effective response to the growing threat of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).  

The Shahed challenge 

Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones, widely used by Russia in Ukraine, have become a major strategic problem. Individually, they are relatively easy to shoot down, but their low cost and use in large swarms create saturation attacks that overwhelm traditional air defenses. 

Intercepting them with high-end surface-to-air missiles is extremely costly and forces advanced systems to be diverted from their primary role, stopping cruise and ballistic missiles, while also requiring redeployment to defend cities instead of protecting frontline forces.  

This dynamic has driven demand for affordable, mobile solutions that can counter Shahed drones without depleting strategic air defense inventories. 

ODIN Win_Hit 

Ukraine’s ODIN team has deployed its ODIN Win_Hit interceptor drones as part of the ODIN Antishaheed system. Purpose-built to counter Shahed and Gerber drones, Win_Hit UAVs offer: 

Speed: 200–220 kilometers per hour (cruise), 280–300 kilometers per hour (attack) 
Flight range: Short-range tactical missions 
Flight duration: 7–10 minutes 
Weight: Medium-weight, reusable design 
Configurations: Day/dusk and night 
Launch options: Mobile ground system, handheld platform, or air-based carrier 
ODIN emphasizes rapid deployment, adaptability, high precision, and affordability compared to conventional anti-drone solutions. Integration with Ukrainian combat brigades is already in progress. 

Ukrainian miltech project ODIN has rolled out its ‘Anti Shahed’ system, using high-speed Win_Hit drones to intercept Shahed and Geran UAVs. Already active in combat, these 300 km/h interceptors are launched from mobile, handheld, or airborne platforms, Militarnyi reports. pic.twitter.com/l9390Iv0us— NOELREPORTS (@NOELreports) July 16, 2025

Harmattan AI’s Gobi 

French startup Harmattan AI has introduced Gobi, an ultra-light autonomous interceptor designed for rapid response against enemy UAVs.  

Speed: Approximately 234 kilometers per hour  
Flight range: 5 kilometers (3 miles) 
Flight duration: Approximately 2 minutes 
Weight: Less than 2 kilograms 
Configurations: Optional night operation 
Dimensions: 43 × 43 × 40 centimeters 
Gobi relies on embedded real-time AI for fully autonomous terminal guidance, ensuring target recognition and tracking without external input, even in GPS-denied or jammed environments.

Additional features include human-in-the-loop safety, low-collateral kinetic impact, and integration into command-and-control platforms. Its low cost, small footprint, and fast reaction capability make it suitable for airspace-saturation defense scenarios. 

A new layer of air defense 

Both ODIN and Harmattan AI represent a broader shift toward agile, affordable, and highly automated counter-UAV technologies. As kamikaze drones continue to shape modern conflict, these interceptor systems aim to restore balance in the skies by providing air defense units with fast and scalable defense solutions. 

This evolution comes amid a shortage of short-range air defense (SHORAD) capabilities, following decades of divestment in Western militaries. Legacy platforms, such as Germany’s Gepard, have proven effective against drones but are no longer in production, forcing nations to explore alternatives.  

New systems, such as Rheinmetall’s Skynex and France’s Proteus, represent more traditional SHORAD solutions, combining rapid-firing guns with advanced sensors. In contrast, interceptor drones offer a complementary, low-cost layer for countering saturation attacks by loitering munitions and small UAVs. 

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