From helicopters to robot boats: Ukraine's new AI drone-hunter adapts to any vehicle

Defense Express reported the information.

The Khyzhak (Predator) system represents a new generation of drone defense technology, combining artificial intelligence with conventional weaponry to create what developers call a universal solution for aerial threats. Armed with a 7.62mm machine gun—with options including PKT, M240, or FN MAG models—the remotely controlled module carries 700 rounds and has an effective range of up to 800 meters.

What sets the Khyzhak apart is its AI-driven targeting system, which automatically detects, tracks, and aims at incoming threats. The module features two thermal imaging cameras: a wide-angle 48-degree sensor for target acquisition and a narrow 15-degree precision camera for engagement. A laser rangefinder and ballistic computer enable accurate fire even at several hundred meters distance.

According to UGV Robotics, the system requires only 1-4 rounds per engagement, theoretically allowing it to intercept over 100 FPV drones on a single ammunition load. The platform offers two firing modes: short 1-2 round bursts and longer 3-4 round sequences, optimizing ammunition efficiency based on threat level.

Perhaps most impressive is the system's versatility in deployment. Footage released by the company shows the Khyzhak mounted on Ukraine's Border Guard Service Airbus H125 helicopter, unmanned surface vessels including the Magura V5, and ground robotic platforms like TERMIT and Lyut. The advanced stabilization allows the system to fire accurately even from moving platforms on water or in the air.

Military analysts suggest the helicopter-mounted version could prove particularly valuable against larger threats like Shahed 'kamikaze' drones and reconnaissance aircraft operating behind front lines, though engaging such targets would consume significantly more ammunition than smaller FPV drones.

For unmanned platforms, which are highly vulnerable to drone attacks, the Khyzhak offers a critical defensive capability. A single unmanned vessel or ground robot equipped with the system could provide cover for an entire group during operations, protecting cargo-carrying or weapon-equipped platforms that lack their own countermeasures.

The system received official codification from Ukrainian military authorities in July 2024, clearing the way for field deployment. However, the 48-degree field of view on the detection camera creates substantial blind spots, requiring the turret to continuously rotate at approximately 10 degrees per second—a potential limitation in fast-moving combat scenarios.

Despite this constraint, the Khyzhak's ability to adapt to multiple weapons systems, engage various target types, and integrate with diverse platforms positions it as a flexible tool in Ukraine's evolving drone warfare doctrine.