According to Babel, Vyriy Industries announced the ZIRKA interceptor on Tuesday, June 3, saying the drone was jointly developed with NOCTIS, incorporating battlefield experience from the Darknode anti-Shahed battalion. Each unit costs up to $2,000, News.Az reports, citing Kyiv Post.
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“We know what a properly scaled defense company looks like. That is why we invest and share expertise. Because the Ukrainian market needs more strong teams,” Vyriy Industries CEO Oleksii Babenko said, adding “The more such teams and quality products there are, the higher the chances of winning this technological race.”
Reportedly, ZIRKA can reach speeds above 340 km/h (211.27 mph), operate at altitudes of up to 6 kilometers (approximately 3.7 miles) and cover an operational radius of 30 kilometers (roughly 18.6 miles) from its launch point, staying airborne for up to 20 minutes.
The drone can automatically detect, track and neutralize high-speed aerial threats without requiring continuous operator input, a capability that sets the interceptor drone apart from cheaper but manually guided alternatives.
Within the partnership, NOCTIS handles interception mechanisms, software and automation, while Vyriy Industries provides funding and manufacturing scale expertise. The team behind the drone includes engineers and programmers with direct field experience in counter-drone operations, according to Babel.
The companies are already working on a follow-up version of the ZIRKA drone.
According to NOCTIS Development Director Oleksii Komlichenko, ZIRKA 2.0 will feature an automated system that guides the interceptor directly into the target detection zone, along with upgraded thermal imaging optics capable of tracking enemy drones at a distance of 2 kilometers (about 1.2 miles).
The new version is also expected to integrate refined target acquisition and guidance algorithms, advanced communication systems and an automatic proximity fuse to detonate the warhead near the target – making the interception process more autonomous and safer for troops on the ground.
ZIRKA isn’t the only Ukrainian interceptor drone moving toward wider deployment. According to United24Media, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry recently codified the LITAVR interceptor drone, developed by Ukrainian company F-Drones.
