Ukrainian defence firm SkyFall has unveiled the P1-SUN JetKiller interceptor, a drone built specifically to hunt and destroy Russia’s jet-powered Shahed variants, announcing plans to begin mass production in August at a monthly rate of 50,000 units.
SkyFall chose the Farnborough International Airshow, held from 20 to 24 July, to present full details of the system. The drone is designed to fly at a top speed of 370 km/h (230 mph), reach altitudes of up to 9,000 metres, and cover a maximum range of 30 km, according to Janes.
The airframe carries a 500-gram explosive payload and can stay airborne for 15 minutes. Cameras for day or night operations can be fitted depending on the mission.
What the P1-SUN JetKiller Interceptor Brings to the Fight
Speed is what separates this machine from its predecessors. Breaking Defense reports the JetKiller’s 370 km/h ceiling represents a step up from SkyFall’s earlier P1-SUN interceptor, which topped out at 310 km/h. That older variant was identified by Ukrainian news website Militarnyi as one of the drones involved in efforts that, according to a New York Times video cited by Breaking Defense, have seen Ukraine destroy at least 213 enemy drones using interceptor tactics.
The new model is equipped with an AI-based terminal guidance system SkyFall says ‘allows the interceptor to detect and lock onto enemy targets faster than the human eye at ranges of up to 1 kilometer.’ A company spokesperson, identified only by his call sign Ares for security reasons, told Business Insider that the JetKiller has already destroyed over a dozen jet-powered threats in combat. ‘What’s notable is that it’s been used already with confirmed intercepts and is reaching mass production,’ Ares said.
SkyFall’s Academy has already begun training pilots for the system. Ukrainska Pravda reports that the drone’s remote-control system integration allows it to be operated from anywhere in the world, and that the JetKiller forms part of a broader SkyFall project to build a unified drone ecosystem in which unmanned systems can exchange data and independently detect, identify, and engage targets.
In June 2026, the Kyiv Independent reported that SkyFall launched a strategic partnership with Airbus Defence and Space, with both sides announcing plans to strengthen Ukraine’s aerial defences against Russian drones and missiles.
The Threat Driving Ukraine’s Interceptor Push
Ukraine’s earlier interceptor drones were designed to counter the Geran-1 and Geran-2, propeller-driven variants that cruise at around 115 mph. The Geran-3, which uses a jet engine, raised the ceiling to roughly 200 mph, and the challenge of matching that speed with a cheap, mass-producible platform has shaped Ukraine’s development priorities ever since.
The Geran-3 presents a further complication: Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate determined it contains no fewer than 45 foreign-made components, according to UAWire. Approximately half are American-made, alongside eight Chinese parts, seven Swiss, three German, two British, and one Japanese. The drone is powered by a Chinese turbojet engine and has a flight range of up to 1,000 km.
Militarnyi recorded a single Russian attack involving 138 Geran-3 jet drones, illustrating the scale at which Moscow is deploying the type. Wreckage bearing serial number U-36 was recovered, pointing to ongoing production.
Russia’s jet-drone family does not stop at the Geran-3. Ukrainska Pravda reports the Geran-4 features a more powerful engine and improved aerodynamics, reaching speeds of up to 500 km/h. The Geran-5, described as effectively a small cruise missile and assessed as a copy or equivalent of the Iranian Karrar UAV, can reach 600 km/h, carries a warhead of 50 to 90 kg, and shares the Geran-3’s 1,000 km range. Ukrainian intelligence had previously warned the Geran-5 can fly at up to 373 mph. At those speeds, the JetKiller’s 370 km/h ceiling would not be sufficient, making the next iteration of the programme the metric to watch.
SkyFall is not alone in chasing this problem. Wild Hornets, another Ukrainian manufacturer, is testing a new version of its STING interceptor aimed at jet-powered Shaheds. NDTV reports the STING can reach altitudes of up to 11 kilometres, placing it within range of the variants Russia is currently deploying.
Whether SkyFall’s August production target of 50,000 JetKillers a month holds will be the first concrete test of whether Ukraine can manufacture interceptors at a pace that matches Russia’s drone offensive.