Unmanned
GUEST BLOG: Closing the gap -- Propulsion requirements for next-generation counter-UAS interceptors - Blog
March 11, 2026Russia's use of low-cost Shahed and Geran drones in Ukraine has exposed a gap in Western defense. NATO and allied forces have no efficient counter to cheap, high-volume aerial threats. Each swarm attack forces defenders to use interceptors that cost hundreds of times more than the incoming drones. Stockpiles deplete and production cannot keep up. Current propulsion systems are either too expensive, too slow to manufacture, or lack the performance to complete the mission. The solution requires propulsion systems that deliver performance and reliability at a price point and production scale that matches the threat. Turbojet engines with start times less than 20 seconds, speeds as fast as 0.9 Mach, and proven manufacturability enable a path forward.
