General Cherry, a fast growing Ukrainian drone manufacturer, has introduced the AIR Pro interceptor drone, a compact but extremely fast platform built to hunt down enemy reconnaissance and attack UAVs across the front, as Militarnyi reports.

The company says the AIR Pro has already been officially codified and approved for use throughout the Security and Defense Forces of Ukraine, which means units can adopt it immediately, and it is also available through the Brave1 platform along with the DOT Chain Defense marketplace.

The AIR Pro was created as a direct response to the rapid evolution of Russian unmanned systems, which now appear in large numbers at different altitudes and approach speeds.

Ukrainian drone developers are under constant pressure to outpace those threats, and General Cherry says the AIR Pro gives operators an interceptor that is both simple to deploy and powerful enough to stop a wide range of aerial targets before they can complete their mission.

The company reports a top speed above 124 mph, which is extremely fast for an electric interceptor of this size, and that speed gives operators the ability to chase down many of the small, maneuverable drones seen on the front.

General Cherry says the AIR Pro has already been used by frontline units for some time, where it has successfully intercepted and destroyed Orlan, ZALA, Lancet, Supercam, Mavic, and other common Russian systems, and the design has been tested and refined repeatedly based on direct feedback from those units.

Specs focused on speed, altitude and real world reliability

The AIR Pro costs $1,141 which is a relatively low price for a dedicated interceptor. The drone can stay airborne for up to thirty five minutes, giving operators time to locate and pursue intruders, and it can climb to an altitude of 22,300 ft.

General Cherry also lists an 1.7 lb payload capacity, which allows the drone to carry the interception package needed to disable its target, and the company says daytime target visibility extends to one mile, which is enough range for an operator to identify and close the distance for an engagement.

One of the most important capabilities on the front today is link stability, and General Cherry highlights that the AIR Pro maintains a strong communication channel even at maximum altitude and distance. Many Ukrainian and Russian drones are lost not because of damage, but because their control links fail during complex maneuvers, making this stability an essential requirement for interceptor pilots who cannot afford to lose control during a chase.

General Cherry says it is also working to increase the number of Ukrainian made components inside its drones. The company explains that the exact share of Ukrainian parts depends on each order and on the availability of domestic components at the time, but they are committed to raising that percentage when possible in order to support local industry and reduce dependence on foreign suppliers.

Mass production ramps as drone warfare accelerates

The company already manufactures thousands of drones per month, and it claims it is prepared to ramp production to tens of thousands per month if battlefield demand increases. The team says it will monitor purchasing patterns closely, especially now that the AIR Pro is listed on both the Brave1 platform and DOT Chain Defense, and it expects demand from Ukrainian units to remain strong as Russian drones continue to evolve.

General Cherry has been expanding its interceptor lineup quickly. Back in October, the company announced that it had started mass production of the Bullet interceptor, another compact drone aimed at stopping Russian UAVs before they can strike Ukrainian positions or relay reconnaissance data. With the AIR Pro now entering wider use, Ukrainian forces will have another tool designed specifically for high speed engagements where reaction time and maneuverability determine success.

DroneXL’s Take

Interceptor drones are becoming one of the most important categories on the battlefield, and the AIR Pro gives Ukraine another high speed option built for daily frontline use. A top speed over two hundred kilometers per hour combined with a relatively low price makes this system valuable, especially as Russian reconnaissance drones appear in larger numbers.

The fact that units have already used it successfully should help speed up adoption, and the promise of large scale production means Ukraine can field more interceptors quickly at a moment when they are needed most.

Photo credit: Gencherry