Ukraine has begun using automated turrets to counter Russian attack drones, and the systems have already demonstrated their ability to destroy aerial targets, according to Yurii Ihnat, a spokesman for the Ukrainian Air Force. Yurii Ihnat said robotic systems had already achieved successful interceptions of Russian unmanned aerial vehicles. He noted that their performance was particularly notable because some of the targets were aircraft-powered drones. Read more: Russian 2S1 Gvozdika howitzer destroyed after Ukrainian drone detects firing position (video) Automated turrets have even been used against the Russian Geran-5 attack UAV. He said he had initially been skeptical about whether such systems would be able to attack drones powered by relatively fast aircraft, but their use in combat had produced convincing results. A key element behind the performance of the turrets is the use of artificial intelligence and computer vision. Instead of relying entirely on a human operator to identify and track an incoming drone, the system can use automated target recognition and engagement technologies. Yurii Ihnat emphasized that this approach can reduce the possibility of human error during an interception. The system’s machine vision capabilities allow it to automatically detect and track targets, which is particularly important when targeting drones that move at higher speeds and leave less time for a human operator to react. The reported interception of Geran-5 systems is significant because aircraft-powered UAVs may present a more difficult target than conventional propeller-driven attack drones. Their greater speed may reduce the engagement window available for short-range air defense systems. At the same time, Yurii Ihnat highlighted that automated turrets currently have a limited effective range. Its primary weapon is a machine gun, meaning the systems are designed for engagements at relatively short ranges rather than replacing longer-range air defense platforms. Read more: Ukraine’s Nemesis brigade destroys five Russian radars and three air defense systems (video)
