Ukrainian company Vluchnyk has completed internal testing of the new Zorelit v5 interceptor drone designed to counter high-speed aerial targets, including jet-powered strike UAVs.
The company shared this with Militarnyi.
According to the developer, the Zorelit v5 met its stated technical specifications after completing a full cycle of internal testing.
“Zorelit v5 has completed a full cycle of testing and is ready to be supplied to the military. We are open to direct contracts with military units as of today, and once the system is codified, we will also make it available through the e-Points system,” Stepan Radiboh, CEO of Vluchnyk LLC, stated.
The new interceptor has a stated maximum speed of 416 km/h and a range of up to 47 km on a single charge. At a cruising speed of around 200 km/h, the flight time can reach approximately 17 minutes. The manufacturer’s website also states that the aircraft is designed to carry a 300–600-gram warhead.
Intercepting jet-powered drones
The Zorelit v5 is primarily designed to intercept aerial targets directly along their flight path.
According to the manufacturer, it is designed to counter reconnaissance UAVs, Russian Gerbera and Geran-2 drones, and high-speed, jet-powered Geran-3 and Geran-4 UAVs.
The interceptor’s stated maximum speed should allow it to engage targets cruising at 300–350 km/h.
The drone can also be equipped with an automatic target detection and illumination system with AI algorithms. The developers have also provided for automatic terminal guidance of the interceptor to the target during the final last-mile stage of flight.
An optional feature is integration with the SkyMap system, which enables the drone to automatically reach the target area and calculate an optimal interception trajectory while accounting for battery consumption. The manufacturer also states that the aircraft can be remotely controlled and transmit video over the internet.
The standard configuration includes a camera gimbal, an ELRS control system with a selectable operating frequency band, a 2.5 W video transmitter, and a warhead initiation board with remote detonation and a physical safety pin.
The new aircraft was developed based on the previous Zorelit v4 interceptor. According to the company, the earlier version has already seen successful combat use, been adopted for service, and received a NATO Stock Number (NSN). Some of the technical solutions proven in combat use of the v4 were carried over to the new version.
Before being shipped to the customer, each interceptor undergoes a test flight. The company says it keeps a video recording of the test and marks each unit, allowing it to track the specific assembly and components used.
Source: Militaryni
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