On the latest episode of the Daily Mail’s Crossfire YouTube series, veteran war reporter Richard Pendlebury joins Ukrainian soldiers on the front line in Sumy pioneering a new kind of warfare: drone versus drone combat.

Since the onset of hostilities between Russia and Ukraine, drones equipped with explosives have played a significant role, accounting for approximately 80% of wartime fatalities.

By acquiring inexpensive drones from Iran, Russia has managed to inundate Ukrainian air defenses, deploying hundreds of these devices in a single night.

Although American-made missiles are effective at intercepting the Shahed drones, their availability is limited due to restrictions on military aid imposed during the Trump administration. Furthermore, these missiles come with a steep price tag, with each Patriot interceptor costing up to $4 million.

On the latest episode of the Daily Mail’s Crossfire, veteran war reporter Richard Pendlebury joins Ukrainian soldiers pioneering a new kind of warfare: drone versus drone combat

Ukraine has become the first modern army to design a new generation of ‘kamikaze’ drones built solely to hunt and destroy enemy drones

Following Ukraine’s Kraken special operations unit, Crossfire host Pendlebury explains how drone versus drone combat works and asks whether it could be the future of modern warfare

In response, Ukraine has pioneered the development of a new wave of ‘kamikaze’ drones specifically designed to target and destroy opposing drones, marking a first for modern military tactics.

This innovative, budget-friendly approach has attracted significant interest from the US and Israel, who are currently engaged in conflict with Iran.

Following the commencement of Operation Epic Fury two weeks ago—a strategic bombing offensive against Iran—the Islamic Republic has countered with extensive Shahed drone assaults targeting Israeli cities, US military installations, and allied Gulf nations.

Following Ukraine’s Kraken special operations unit, Crossfire host Pendlebury explains how drone versus drone combat works and asks whether it could be the future of modern warfare.

‘Drones have come to dominate the battlefield in Ukraine to an extent which is hard to imagine unless you’re here’, he said.

‘Current missile air defence systems are prohibitively expensive when it comes to combatting drones. The solution? The adaptation of the existing kamikaze drones concept to hunt and kill the enemy’s own.

‘One model, the Techno Taras, is an interceptor drone built to knock down Russian reconnaissance drones. It’s a hundred percent Ukrainian made.

Watch Richard Pendlebury’s full report on the Daily Mail World YouTube channel now. 

‘The body, fuselage and wings are made from polystyrene. It’s extremely lightweight. It’s launched by compressed air and from there, it goes under its own power.

‘It can fly for up to an hour at a maximum altitude of 6000 meters and a range of more than 35 kilometers, with a top speed of 160 kilometers per hour.

‘It can catch and destroy Russian drones which cost more than fifty times the Techno Taras. Targets are not brought down by ramming – 600 grams of explosives within the drones nose are remotely detonated by an operator.

‘But, if it fails to find a target, the drone can be recovered and reused, just like a 1940s Spitfire.’

During his time with Ukraine’s Kraken unit, Pendlebury witnesses first hand just how effective the drone interceptors have become, with their hilltop position drawing relentless Russian artillery fire.

This week, as Iranian Shahed drones continue to batter US military bases across the Persian Gulf, President Zelensky confirmed that Ukrainian drone interceptor teams have been dispatched to Jordan at Washington’s request.

To see the drone interceptors in action, subscribe to the Daily Mail’s Crossfire YouTube channel.