The Pentagon and at least one Gulf country are exploring purchases of Ukrainian-made drone interceptors to counter Iranian Shahed drones, according to Ukrainian defense industry sources.
Gulf nations have relied heavily on expensive Patriot missiles to defend against swarms of Shaheds following the US-Israel strike campaign.
But with supplies dwindling and costs soaring – a single Patriot interceptor can run over $13.5 million – officials are looking to Ukraine’s experience for a cheaper alternative, the Financial Times reported, citing sources familiar with the discussions.
Ukraine has been pioneering low-cost solutions, using mass-produced interceptors priced at a few thousand dollars each to shoot down Russian Shahed drones, which cost roughly $30,000 apiece.
One Ukrainian official described the Pentagon discussions as “sensitive” but said international interest in these interceptors is growing rapidly.
“Ukrainian drone interceptors are proving they can take down Shaheds at a fraction of the cost,” the official said.
Another source added that any export of Ukrainian systems, even if assembled abroad, would need Kyiv’s approval.
President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed he has discussed the technology with Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani of Qatar and Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates.
“Ukraine’s expertise in intercepting Shahed drones is among the world’s most advanced,” Zelensky said. “Any cooperation must not compromise our own defenses.”
In an interview with Bloomberg, Zelensky had offered Kyiv’s drone expertise to Middle Eastern leaders in exchange for pushing Moscow to agree to a month-long ceasefire in Ukraine.
He said Kyiv could send specialists to help Middle Eastern countries shoot down Iranian drones if they use their influence to secure a ceasefire.
“Leaders of the Middle East have great relations with Russians,” he said. “They can ask Russians to implement a month-long ceasefire. We will send our best operators of drone interceptors to help protect civilians.”
How Ukraine Stops Shaheds
Shahed drones are cheap, small, and highly mobile, making them difficult to counter with conventional missile systems.
Ukraine has adapted by deploying a mix of anti-aircraft guns, mobile machine-gun platforms, and specialized interceptor drones capable of speeds up to 250 km/h – fast enough to catch the Shahed, which tops out at 185 km/h.
Several Ukrainian interceptor systems are already in service.
Among them is the Merops interceptor drone, a fixed-wing interceptor developed by companies backed by former Eric Schmidt, the former CEO of Google.
Another system, the Sting interceptor drone, is produced by the Ukrainian drone developer Wild Hornets. The bullet-shaped quadcopter has been deployed off the coast of Odesa aboard unmanned naval drones operated by Ukrainian startup Uforce.
Ukrainian company General Cherry also produces a high-speed interceptor drone designed specifically for hunting Shahed drones.
Some interceptors use computer vision for autonomous targeting, while others rely on remote operators. Offshore deployment has proven particularly effective, according to experts, echoing Iranian tactics in the Gulf that mimic Russia’s attacks on Odesa.
While Ukraine’s interceptors handle Shaheds well, newer Russian drones like the Geran-3 – jet-powered, flying over 550 km/h – remain largely unstoppable.
Kyiv is hoping that wider international adoption of its interceptors will free up Patriot missiles for its own air defense needs, especially against advanced Russian cruise and ballistic missiles.