Ukraine to receive French counter-drone systems with built-in AI. PHOTO
Drone Industry
On 17 November, at one of France’s military bases, Alta Ares showcased its technologies to Presidents Emmanuel Macron and Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The company focuses on developing solutions to defend against kamikaze drones, including creating an AI-powered system for interceptor drones.
The company reported this to the Drones Industry project on Censor.NET.
On 20 October 2025, the Alta Ares interception system successfully passed NATO validation at the test range of the French Defence Procurement Agency. Just ten days later, the system was deployed in Ukraine, where it shot down its first Russian Shahed-type drones.
The French company presented to Presidents Macron and Zelenskyy the operational capabilities of its systems in Ukraine and on NATO’s eastern flank. It took part in the "Drones and defence technologies" segment, showcasing its Safe Protection Dome system, which has already been operating for several months in real combat conditions.
The interception system combines Thales and Echodyne tactical radars with X-Wing interceptors and turbojet drones developed in France and Ukraine.
The system can destroy enemy UAVs at distances of up to 30 km, and its built-in AI terminal guidance increases interception effectiveness by 35%. It is compatible with various radars and anti-aircraft systems, providing protection for sensitive facilities and critical infrastructure.
In the first quarter of 2026, the French company, in partnership with a Ukrainian drone operator, plans to localise the full production cycle in France for one of its interceptors, provided it receives approval from the Government of Ukraine.
Production of the turbojet interceptor has already begun. The system consists of 85% European-made components, allowing it to avoid dependence on Chinese battery supplies.
"Just two weeks after passing NATO validation, our system proved its effectiveness by successfully destroying Russian drones. This is the result of the hard work of our engineers in France and Ukraine. We are sincerely grateful to our Ukrainian and French partners for their trust and the opportunity to work side by side," said Alta Ares CEO and co-founder Hadrien Canter.
Ukrainian UAV-interceptor manufacturer Tenebris considers its partnership with France extremely valuable. The company believes that joint projects demonstrate the effectiveness, speed and technological maturity of Ukrainian developments when combined with the capabilities of French industry.
"We are already working on localising production at French facilities once export licences are obtained, while in parallel expanding our production in Ukraine. This will allow us to build a resilient, bi-national defence technology cluster capable of meeting critical needs both for Ukraine and for our partners in Europe," said Tenebris CEO Bohdan Velma.
Several units of the French army and the Government of Ukraine are already in the process of procuring UAV interception systems. To scale up production, the company has secured support from leading players in the defence industry.
About the companies
Alta Ares is a French counter-drone solutions integrator founded in Ukraine. The company has offices in France, Ukraine and the United States. Its goal is to become one of Europe’s key producers of counter-drone solutions.
Tenebris is a Ukrainian manufacturer of UAV interceptors specialising in high-tech solutions to counter airborne threats.
For the latest demonstration, a new interceptor model was developed featuring a terminal guidance system and full automation of the interception process. The model’s name is not being disclosed for security reasons, but the system has already proved effective during international trials and joint presentations with European partners.
