Defence Minister Evgeniy Khmara outlined efforts to strengthen air defence, intercept jet-powered drones, expand long-range strikes and develop Ukraine’s defence industry.

Layered Air Defence and Preparation for New Threats

Countering aerial threats requires a layered system. A single type of capability is not enough to protect the skies.

This defence consists of several layers: surface-to-air missile systems, man-portable air defence systems (MANPADS), gun turrets, electronic warfare (EW) systems, drone interceptor crews and short-range air defence assets. These capabilities are complemented by aircraft, including Mirage and F-16 fighter jets.

The Ministry of Defence is working simultaneously to provide interceptor drones, aircraft and their munitions, surface-to-air missile and anti-aircraft artillery systems, gun turrets, EW equipment and other solutions.

According to Yevhenii Khmara, it is essential to plan several steps ahead and maintain sufficient stocks of the necessary weapons.

“We also know what solutions russia is developing, including jet-powered drones with a speed of 800 km. We are also working to find ways to counter the next generation of threats,” the Defence Minister said.

Defence industry manufacturers have been tasked with submitting proposals and prototypes.

Intercepting Jet-Powered Shaheds

The effectiveness of countermeasures against conventional Shahed drones already exceeds 90%. The current challenge is jet-powered drones, which require higher interception speeds.

Ukraine has already achieved successful results using interceptor drones against jet-powered unmanned aircraft. During combat operations, one unit used five Bars interceptors to destroy five aerial targets. The success rate in this case was therefore 100%.

This experience is now being studied and scaled up, with additional specialists and units joining the effort.

The objective is to increase the overall interception rate against jet-powered drones and rapidly scale up solutions that prove effective in combat.

Heavy-calibre gun turrets have also successfully engaged jet-powered UAVs. Ukraine already has hundreds of these systems in service.

This capability is being expanded, while longer-range systems are also being explored.

Surface-to-air missile systems and MANPADS are also proving effective. The Ministry of Defence is focused on procuring both the systems and their missiles and is discussing these requirements with partners in various countries.

Aircraft Against Jet-Powered Drones

Aircraft remain among the most effective means of countering jet-powered drones.

Their effectiveness continues to improve thanks to pilots’ skills and better coordination. As a result, Ukrainian aircraft now use fewer munitions per aerial target. Further improvements are planned.

The Ministry of Defence is working to increase the availability of F-16s for combat alert duties. Aircraft maintenance is one of the bottlenecks, and the relevant capacity is now being expanded.

Mirage fighter jets are also used against aerial targets. For both platforms, maintaining sufficient munition reserves for several months ahead is critical.

The Ballistic Missile Threat: Missile Deliveries and Strikes on Launchers

The threat of ballistic missile attacks remains critical.

Current and potential deliveries of missiles for ballistic missile defence are insufficient to fully address this threat. The Ministry of Defence is working with partners to accelerate deliveries of the necessary missiles.

The objective is to avoid waiting for major long-term contracts and instead identify available stocks held by partners as quickly as possible and expedite their transfer to Ukraine.

“We need tens and hundreds of missiles, rather than deliveries of individual missiles,” Yevhenii Khmara stressed.

At the same time, Ukraine is pursuing an asymmetric response by striking russian launchers.

During September and early October, Ukraine’s Defence Forces hit 8 launchers used for ballistic missile attacks: three were destroyed and five damaged. Such strikes have already forced the enemy to cancel or alter planned ballistic missile attacks.

Countering russian UAVs Begins Before They Are Launched

Countering russian attack drones is not limited to intercepting them in the air.

Ukraine is targeting the entire chain: production and components, sanctions, factories, storage facilities, preparation and launch sites, command posts and UAV crews.

Strikes on this infrastructure do not stop russian attacks entirely, but they reduce their effectiveness and force the enemy to rebuild infrastructure and form new teams to replace those eliminated.

Countering Guided Aerial Bombs: Priority on Carrier Aircraft

Countering guided aerial bombs requires a comprehensive approach. The priority is to target their carriers: russian aircraft and airfield infrastructure.

Ukraine is also considering and testing additional solutions to counter aircraft carrying guided aerial bombs more effectively.

Middle Strike: Scaling Up to Corps Level

The Ministry of Defence is working to increase the number of middle-strike assets and scale up their deployment to corps level.

This should strengthen units’ ability to systematically engage targets in the enemy’s operational depth — primarily UAV crews, command posts, logistics, air defence systems, radars, EW systems and other targets that support russian military operations.

Countering Enemy UAV Crews as a Separate Specialisation

Countering enemy UAV operators and ground infrastructure should become a separate specialisation.

A regular brigade is primarily focused on the immediate threat in front of it. Specialised second-echelon units are therefore needed, with locating and destroying UAV crews among their priority tasks.

Ukraine already has combat experience showing that systematic strikes on UAV crews and their bases significantly reduced the enemy’s aerial reconnaissance capabilities in a particular sector. This experience needs to be scaled up.

Deep Strike: Targeting russia’s Ability to Continue the War

Ukraine will continue developing its deep-strike capability. The objective is not simply to strike far away, but to target russia’s ability to continue the war.

According to the Defence Minister, systematic strikes on russian oil refining have already had an economic impact. Since these operations began, 51% of russia’s oil refining capacity has been put out of operation.

Deep strike is also part of Ukraine’s asymmetric response to russian attacks and a means of defending the country.

Ukraine is scaling up this capability. Alongside increasing the number of assets, it must improve their quality and ability to penetrate russia’s layered air defences.

Mobilisation Exemptions for Defence Industry Workers

The Ministry of Defence’s position is to secure mobilisation exemptions for defence industry personnel to the fullest extent possible.

If companies are tasked with scaling up production of systems critical to the front line and the state awards them contracts, it must create the conditions needed to fulfil those contracts.

At the same time, the system must reflect each company’s actual contribution to supplying the Defence Forces and be fair.

Exports of Ukrainian Weapons

The Ministry of Defence is working to launch an effective system for exporting Ukrainian defence products.

The needs of the Defence Forces remain the absolute priority. Only products surplus to those requirements may be exported, provided this does not put supplies to the Ukrainian military at risk.

Exports should become an additional source of resources for the defence sector. A mechanism is being developed under which part of the export revenue would be allocated to the needs of the Defence Forces.

Production of Jet Engines

Ukraine considers jet engine production one of the critical areas for developing its domestic defence industry.

Demand spans various classes of systems — from interceptors and middle-strike assets to deep-strike systems and cruise missiles.

Ukraine already has a number of designs and manufacturers that receive state assistance and support. In total, there are around two dozen Ukrainian manufacturers across three main categories.

For one engine type, estimated demand in 2027 could reach approximately 10,000 units per month.