Zelensky: Ukraine to deploy domestically produced small missiles against jet-powered Shaheds by late October
President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukraine will begin using domestically produced small missiles to counter Russian jet-powered Shahed drones, with first results expected in the second half of October. Speaking at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Kyiv, Zelensky said current interception rates stand at 85–92% for conventional Shaheds but only 50–60% for reactive variants, and that F-16 fighters using 20mm ammunition are currently the most effective countermeasure.
Key points
- Zelensky said Ukraine currently shoots down 85–92% of conventional Shahed drones and 50–60% of jet-powered (reactive) ones.
- He announced first results of a domestically produced small-missile program against reactive drones are expected in the second half of October; mass production would follow if trials succeed.
- F-16s with 20mm ammunition are described as the most effective current tool against reactive drones, with interception rates around 50–60%; Ukraine is working toward 5,000–6,000 rounds per day.
- Ukraine is negotiating with Poland, France, Norway, Sweden and Finland on 20mm ammunition supplies and broader air-defense cooperation; Spain and Belgium have begun transferring 20mm rounds.
- The 'Bars' interceptor drone shows the highest interception rate among drone interceptors at about 30%; Ukraine and Germany are jointly producing 2,000 of them.
- 12 anti-aircraft turrets have been installed in Kyiv with 8 more planned, and 50 have been installed in the surrounding region.
- On the night of October 3–4, Russia attacked with 135 Shahed-type drones, 52 of them reactive; during September Russia launched more than 2,730 reactive Shaheds, of which more than 1,500 were shot down or suppressed.
Why it matters
Reactive Shaheds are significantly harder to intercept than conventional ones, and a 50–60% interception rate means a large share still reach their targets. A domestically produced small-missile program, if it scales, would give Ukraine a sovereign counter to the new drone threat rather than relying solely on supplied systems. F-16s with 20mm ammunition are emerging as the most effective current tool, and Ukraine is lining up international partners to keep them supplied. Russia's reported plan to spend $12 billion next year on reactive drones and loitering munitions makes scaling these countermeasures urgent.
What happened
President Volodymyr Zelensky announced at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Kyiv that Ukraine will begin using domestically produced small missiles against Russian jet-powered Shahed drones, with first results expected in the second half of October. Zelensky said current interception rates stand at roughly 85–92% for conventional Shaheds but only 50–60% for reactive variants, and that F-16 fighters using 20mm ammunition are the most effective current countermeasure. He said the Ukrainian Armed Forces are testing four prospective interceptor-drone models on the front line, with about ten more manufacturers undergoing trials. The 'Bars' interceptor drone, produced jointly with Germany, shows the highest interception rate among drone interceptors at roughly 30%, and 2,000 units are planned. Twelve anti-aircraft turrets have been installed in Kyiv, with eight more planned, and 50 have been installed in the surrounding region. Zelensky said Ukraine is negotiating with Poland, France, Norway, Sweden and Finland on 20mm ammunition and broader air-defense cooperation; Spain and Belgium have already begun transferring rounds. On the night of October 3–4, Russia attacked with 135 Shahed-type drones, 52 of them reactive.
Where reporting differs
Sources differ slightly on how F-16 interception rates against reactive drones are characterized: most cite a 50–60% range, while some report stepwise figures of about 50%, 55% and sometimes 60%. Coverage also varies on which interceptor and missile programs are highlighted — some sources lead with 'Bars,' others with the jointly produced Ukrainian-German 'Bars' program and its 2,000-unit target, and still others with the 'Spys' interceptor and the 'Nika' missile. The list of partner countries in 20mm ammunition and broader air-defense talks also varies across reports: some mention only Poland and France, others add Norway, Sweden and Finland, and one credits Spain and Belgium with already transferring ammunition.
Background
Russia has begun fielding jet-powered variants of Shahed-type drones alongside conventional propeller-driven ones, and the overnight attack of October 3–4 involved 135 Shahed-type drones, 52 of them reactive. During September, Russia launched more than 2,730 reactive Shaheds at Ukraine, of which more than 1,500 were shot down or suppressed. Ukraine and Germany are jointly producing 'Bars' interceptor drones and plan to obtain 2,000 of them; a Ukrainian-German interceptor called 'Spys' has reportedly passed a test, and a Ukrainian missile called 'Nika' has been developed for shooting down reactive Shaheds. During Chancellor Merz's visit to Kyiv, Germany and Ukraine signed defense, security, energy and rescue-technology agreements totaling over €8.5 billion, including a German aid package worth over €1 billion.