Ukraine's low-cost 3D-printed interceptor drones destroy 33,000 targets in March
Ukraine has deployed low-cost 3D-printed interceptor drones that destroyed a record 33,000 aerial targets in March, according to Ukrainian forces. The plastic mini-rockets, costing €1,000–€3,000 each, have replaced machine guns for downing Shahed drones. Kyiv tightly controls exports of the interceptors, which are sought by Middle Eastern countries, using them as a diplomatic lever.
Ukraine's low-cost 3D-printed interceptor drones destroyed a record 33,000 aerial targets in March, according to Ukrainian forces, six months after the plastic mini-rockets were first deployed on the front line.
The interceptors, which cost €1,000 to €3,000 per unit, have replaced machine guns as the primary tool for downing Russian Shahed drones. A soldier on the front line said: "Ça a tout changé. On abat vingt-cinq à trente drones par semaine. On a même laissé tomber les mitrailleuses, elles ne servent plus à rien" ("It changed everything. We shoot down 25 to 30 drones per week. We even dropped the machine guns, they are useless now").
The plastic mini-rockets, produced via 3D printing, neutralize Shahed drones five times their size in flight. A pilot with the call sign "Artist" demonstrated the interceptor's readiness by activating a short electronic jingle before takeoff, according to a report from the front line.
Middle Eastern countries are seeking to acquire the interceptors, but Kyiv tightly controls their export to use them as a diplomatic lever. The March tally of 33,000 targets destroyed marks a monthly record for the system, which has been in use for six months.