New tools for Ukraine against drones: EW and anti-aircraft systems

Drones, a key weapon in the Russia-Ukraine war, have prompted a surge in anti-drone technology. Traditional air defense struggles against drones, leading Ukraine to embrace new "hybrid" Western anti-drone solutions, Defense Express reports.

Lithuania provided Ukraine with "thousands" of lightweight Sky Wiper anti-drone guns, tackling drones up to 5 km away. Yet, advanced drones with GPS-resistant systems pose challenges for these guns.

To counter this, Ukraine turns to kinetic anti-drone systems. The Terrahawk Paladin from Britain and Germany's SKYNEX are notable examples.

Photo: Defense Express

The Terrahawk Paladin, showcased in 2022 and delivered to Ukraine in October 2023, targets air threats within 600 m to 2 km, ideal for defending stationary sites, according to the article. 

The German SKYNEX anti-aircraft artillery system, which was also mentioned in open sources, belongs to a similar class of systems.

In the same league is the Australian Slinger anti-aircraft system, mountable on armored vehicles, costing $1.55 million each. Kongsberg's CORTEX Typhon, adaptable to various machine gun calibers, and the Vampire missile launcher for APKWS missiles, designed to combat Russian drones, are also part of Ukraine's expanding anti-drone arsenal.