Ukraine’s $1,000 Answer to Iran’s Shahed Drones

As Iran launches waves of Shahed drones at U.S. allies across the Gulf, Ukraine has emerged as an unexpected supplier of a critical countermeasure: cheap interceptor drones.

Ukrainian manufacturer SkyFall says its P1-SUN interceptor has downed more than 1,500 Shaheds in just four months, at a cost of roughly $1,000 per drone—a fraction of the $4 million Patriot missiles typically used.

With the U.S. and Qatar now in talks to purchase Ukrainian interceptors, Kyiv sees an opportunity to leverage its hard-won combat expertise.

SkyFall estimates it can manufacture up to 50,000 drones per month and export 5,000 to 10,000 without affecting Ukraine’s own defense needs.

The company is also ready to send pilots or even fly drones remotely from Ukraine. The math is simple: cheap drones stop cheap drones, preserving expensive missiles for bigger threats.