Ukraine lets firms test air defenses in battleAFP, KYIVFacing daily barrages of Russian drones and missiles, Ukraine has invited private companies to get their own air-defense systems in a bid to ease the burden on its military. Members of Ukraine’s private air defense training group participate in simulator exercises in the center’s classroom at an undisclosed location on Wednesday, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In the northeastern Kharkiv region, near the front line, one company — unnamed for security reasons — used heavy machine guns mounted on remote-controlled turrets to intercept several Russian drones. “We don’t expect private air defense to solve all our problems,” he said. For him, the future of private air defense lies in drone interceptors — small uncrewed aircraft designed to destroy incoming drones midair.

Source: Taipei Times April 09, 2026 17:59 UTC