Ukraine’s New Drone Is Basically an Aerial Interceptor on Energy Drinks

A new high speed drone interceptor is now actively hunting enemy UAVs over Ukraine, and it does so at a pace that would leave most quadcopters gasping for air. The system is called AIR SPEED, and it represents the latest evolution in Ukraine’s rapidly maturing counter drone ecosystem, where speed, simplicity, and frontline practicality matter more than polished brochures.

Developed by General Cherry, AIR SPEED is an 8 inch interceptor drone designed to chase, catch, and neutralize small attack UAVs, commercial quadcopters, and tactical reconnaissance platforms. With a claimed top speed of 147 mph or about 236 kilometers per hour, this interceptor sits firmly in the category of purpose built aerial hunters rather than improvised solutions, as Next Gen Defense reports.

Built for Speed and Control

AIR SPEED’s defining feature is exactly what its name promises. Speed. At 147 mph, it can outrun many of the drones it is designed to intercept, including fast moving reconnaissance platforms and loitering munitions that rely on velocity and altitude to survive.

The interceptor uses an 8-inch, or 20.3 centimeter, frame that balances compact size with aggressive maneuverability. This smaller footprint improves responsiveness during high speed engagements, where split second course corrections can determine whether a target is intercepted or escapes into the distance. In modern drone warfare, agility is often just as important as raw speed, especially when engaging targets that can suddenly change direction or altitude.

Despite its compact size, AIR SPEED is designed to be robust enough for real combat use. This is not a lab prototype or a concept demo. According to General Cherry, the system is already deployed across multiple frontlines and has demonstrated effectiveness against both reconnaissance and strike UAVs.

Targeting a Wide Range of Threats

AIR SPEED is not limited to one specific drone type. Its mission profile includes one way attack drones, commercial quadcopters adapted for battlefield use, and tactical reconnaissance UAVs that feed real time intelligence to enemy artillery and command units.

The interceptor is also capable of engaging fixed wing surveillance drones such as ZALA, Supercam, and Eagles, along with Lancet type loitering munitions. These platforms are often harder to counter due to their speed, range, and flight profile, making a fast interceptor especially valuable.

By covering this broad threat spectrum, AIR SPEED fills a critical gap between slower, heavier counter drone systems and electronic warfare solutions that are not always effective against hardened or autonomous UAVs. It gives frontline units a kinetic option that is relatively simple, mobile, and quick to deploy.

Frontline Ready and Already in Use

General Cherry describes AIR SPEED as “frontline ready,” and that claim appears to be backed by real world deployment. Reports indicate the interceptor is already operating across multiple combat zones, where it is actively countering enemy reconnaissance and strike drones.

AIR SPEED also complements the company’s existing interceptor lineup. General Cherry already fields the BULLET system, which is optimized for countering Shahed type long range attack drones, and the AIR Pro interceptor, which uses a larger 10-inch, or 25 centimeter, frame.

Together, these systems allow Ukrainian forces to tailor their counter drone response depending on target size, speed, and mission profile.

This layered approach reflects how drone warfare has evolved in Ukraine. There is no single magic solution. Instead, success comes from having multiple tools that can be deployed quickly and matched to specific threats.

Brave1 and Fast Track Defense Tech

AIR SPEED is now available through the Brave1 platform, Ukraine’s centralized defense technology procurement hub. Brave1 was created to solve a critical wartime problem: bureaucracy.

We have previously written about the Brave1 platform and its role in accelerating the delivery of drones, electronic warfare systems, and other war related equipment directly to the frontlines.

Instead of slow, traditional procurement processes that can take months or even years, Brave1 enables rapid testing, approval, and deployment of battlefield proven technologies.

This fast track approach ensures that effective systems like AIR SPEED do not get stuck in administrative limbo while frontline units urgently need new tools. In a conflict where technology evolves weekly, not yearly, Brave1 has become a key enabler of Ukraine’s adaptive drone strategy.

DroneXL’s Take

AIR SPEED is another reminder that Ukraine’s drone war is no longer about improvisation alone. It is about specialization. A 147 mph interceptor built specifically to chase and destroy enemy UAVs shows how refined this battlefield has become. Speed, agility, and fast procurement now matter as much as firepower.

With platforms like Brave1 cutting through bureaucracy and systems like AIR SPEED already proving themselves at the front, counter drone warfare is moving into a new, highly focused phase where hunters are finally catching up to their prey.

Photo credit: General Cherry, Ukraine DOD.