Robotic Weapon on the Horizon for Ukraine's Military Arsenal
Ukraine bolsters air defense with autonomous weapon system amid intensifying drone attacks from Russia
In response to intensifying nightly attacks by hundreds of Russian Shahed drones, Ukraine has unveiled a new air defense system, dubbed Sky Sentinel. The simplistic gun turret appears to be both affordable and accurate, requiring minimal human operation.
With Ukraine's air defense systems reportedly overwhelmed during recent air attacks due to the significant number of Shahed drones used, the introduction of Sky Sentinel may offer a viable solution. Military expert Colonel Reisner expressed his belief that Russia may increase its production of these drones further, up to 500 per day, necessitating effective countermeasures.
The Sky Sentinel system, currently undergoing fundraising efforts through donations to the Ukrainian government's official platform, United24, aims to raise 1.5 million dollars for ten systems, each costing 150,000 dollars. United24 describes the Sky Sentinel as a "Shaheed Catcher" capable of eliminating drones and even cruise missiles, following initial successes in shooting down four Shahed drones during testing.
Controlled by AI, Sky Sentinel systems only require radar synchronization and a setup in combat positions, according to United24. The system's operational range remains undisclosed, but it can rotate 360 degrees and is equipped with a machine gun. Despite being a collaborative venture, Sky Sentinel also incorporates foreign components.
While the funding initiative for ten Sky Sentinel systems may be a step in the right direction, it is likely that more systems will be required for comprehensive airspace protection. Ukraine currently relies on both obsolete Soviet-era air defense systems and Western systems, some of which have demonstrated success against drones. These include the German Iris-T and the Gepard air defense tank, as well as the Norwegian Nasams. However, there remain insufficient quantities of these systems.
In the face of Russian air attacks, Ukrainian soldiers must resort to manual methods such as shooting down objects from pickups or employing portable air defense missiles like the Stinger type. Even the F-16 combat jets delivered from the West, suitable for countering drones, are currently too few in number, with approximately 40 pieces, for comprehensive airspace protection.
In the broader context, the Sky Sentinel has proven to be an effective and cost-efficient solution for countering Shahed drones in the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict, offering a promising addition to Ukraine's air defense arsenal.
Sources: ntv.de, rog
In response to the escalating nightly drone attacks by Russian Shahed drones, Ukraine's community policy, as demonstrated by the unveiling of the Sky Sentinel, aims to bolster its air defense using autonomous technology. This system, undergoing fundraising efforts through the politics of donations to the Ukrainian government's United24 platform, could potentially mitigate the impact of war-and-conflicts on the country's general-news landscape.
