At the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Annual Meeting 2025 in Washington D.C., Dedrone and Tytan Defense unveiled a new AI-powered interceptor drone aimed at countering low-cost kamikaze drones like the Iranian-made Shahed-136. The system is designed to offer a scalable and cost-effective alternative to traditional kinetic air defense solutions for defending against Group 3 UAVs and loitering munitions.
Shahed-Class Drones Drive Demand for Low-Cost Interceptors
The widespread use of Iranian-origin Shahed-131/136 drones by Russia in Ukraine has underscored the urgent need for more economical countermeasures. These fixed-wing loitering munitions are inexpensive—estimated between $20,000–$50,000 per unit—but can inflict disproportionate damage on critical infrastructure. In contrast, intercepting them with high-end surface-to-air missiles like NASAMS or Patriot incurs costs ranging from $100,000 to over $1 million per shot.
This cost asymmetry has spurred demand for layered defense architectures that include directed energy weapons (DEWs), electronic warfare (EW), and now increasingly autonomous drone-on-drone interceptors. The Dedrone-Tytan solution seeks to fill this niche with an affordable autonomous platform capable of physically disabling or destroying incoming threats mid-flight.
Dedrone-Tytan System Overview
The new system combines Dedrone’s mature C-UAS detection and tracking software stack with a custom-built quadcopter-style interceptor developed by Tytan Defense. The platform uses onboard artificial intelligence (AI) for autonomous target acquisition and engagement. Once cued by radar or RF sensors from the DedroneTracker software ecosystem—which includes multi-sensor fusion from EO/IR cameras, RF direction finding arrays, and radar—the interceptor launches autonomously toward its target.
Key features include:
- Autonomous Navigation: Onboard AI enables real-time object recognition and flight path adjustment without remote pilot input.
- High-Speed Intercept: Capable of reaching speeds up to ~200 km/h to close on fast-moving targets like Shaheds.
- Kinetic Kill Mechanism: Employs a physical ramming technique or net entanglement system depending on configuration.
- Modular Payload Bay: Allows integration of jammers or explosive charges if required under specific rules of engagement.
- C2 Integration: Compatible with NATO-standard C2 systems via open APIs; supports integration into SHORAD networks.
Tactical Use Case: Point Defense Against Loitering Munitions
The primary envisioned deployment scenario is point defense of high-value assets—such as ammunition depots, radar stations, power substations—where traditional air defense coverage may be limited or saturated. The system can be deployed as part of mobile force protection kits or fixed-site installations using containerized launch/recharge stations similar to UAV swarm nests.
Tactically, once an inbound Group 3 threat is detected by Dedrone’s sensor suite (e.g., via RF signature or visual tracking), the command node dispatches one or more interceptors. These drones fly autonomously toward the threat using GPS-denied navigation techniques such as visual odometry and onboard SLAM algorithms. Upon interception range (~1–3 km), they execute a terminal maneuver to disable or destroy the target via impact or entanglement.
A Cost-Imposed Kill Chain
The key advantage touted by both companies is cost parity—or even advantage—over the threat itself. While exact pricing was not disclosed at AUSA due to ongoing DoD evaluations under OTAs (Other Transaction Agreements), industry estimates suggest each interceptor unit could cost under $15,000 depending on configuration. This would make it cheaper than most loitering munitions it aims to defeat—a rare inversion in modern air defense economics.
This affordability opens up possibilities for mass deployment across forward operating bases (FOBs), expeditionary units, and even civilian infrastructure protection in homeland security contexts. Moreover, since these interceptors are recoverable when not destroyed during engagement (e.g., net-based captures), their lifecycle costs may be further reduced through reuse after refurbishment.
Integration Roadmap and Future Enhancements
Dedrone confirmed that prototypes have already undergone live-fire testing at undisclosed U.S. test ranges in Q3–Q4 FY2024 under Army Rapid Capabilities Office oversight. Further trials are scheduled through early FY2026 under joint experimentation programs involving CENTCOM-affiliated units operating in drone-threatened theaters such as Iraq and Syria.
Planned enhancements include:
- Swarms vs Swarms: Coordinated multi-drone intercept capability using swarm logic against massed UAV attacks.
- E-M Spectrum Hardening: Improved resistance against GNSS spoofing/jamming via inertial navigation upgrades.
- Lethal Payload Options: Optional warhead integration for hard-kill missions where ramming is insufficient.
- Civilian Adaptation: Scaled-down versions for airport/critical infrastructure protection under DHS contracts.
A New Layer in Counter-UAS Doctrine
The emergence of kinetic interceptor drones adds another layer to evolving counter-UAS doctrine within NATO militaries. Rather than relying solely on high-cost missiles or vulnerable EW-only defenses, autonomous interceptors provide a middle-tier option that balances cost-effectiveness with physical kill certainty—especially against hardened targets like metal-bodied Shaheds that resist jamming alone.
If successfully scaled into fielded units over FY2026–FY2028 procurement cycles, systems like the Dedrone-Tytan platform could become integral components of SHORAD modernization efforts across U.S., European, and Middle Eastern forces grappling with saturation drone attacks from state-sponsored actors and non-state groups alike.
