Ukraine develops low-cost air-to-ground missiles to counter Russian Geran drones
Two Ukrainian teams are finalising domestically produced surface-to-air missiles intended to engage Russian Geran drones, with each unit priced far below typical Western systems.
Ukraine is close to fielding two home-grown surface-to-air missiles designed to shoot down Russian Geran drones. Development began with funding allocated in 2024, and after two years the first prototypes were produced. Officials stress that the missiles are inexpensive to build and purchase, offering a stark price contrast to Western missiles that can run into the high-hundreds of thousands per unit.
By keeping costs low, Ukraine hopes to deploy multiple missiles per target and achieve a favorable cost-to-effectiveness ratio. The projects are managed by separate defence-technology clusters, underscoring a broader strategy of self-reliance in armaments. This effort comes as Kyiv seeks to counter the expanding use of long-range Russian drones with affordable, locally sourced solutions.
Why it matters
Affordable indigenous missiles could help Ukraine sustain its air defence against costly Russian drone threats.
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