Sting interceptor drone downs Shaheds with up to 90% efficiency, - "Wild Hornets". VIDEO
Drone Industry
The "Sting" interceptor drone from the Ukrainian company "Wild Hornets" has achieved an efficiency rate of 80–90% in Downing Russian "Shahed" and "Gerbera" type drones.
According to Censor.NET, the company notes that on certain days, interception efficiency reached 100% — one sortie equaled one downed drone.
It is also reported that current production capacities allow for the manufacture of 9,000 to 10,000 interceptor drones monthly, provided contracts are concluded on time.
Details
The Sting UAV-interceptor is a compact, lightweight electric drone equipped with a remote control unit and a warhead.
The structure is designed with strict requirements for cost and serial production in mind; therefore, the developers made several design compromises that allegedly ensured a balance between flight characteristics, combat capabilities, and product economics.
The airframe is made entirely of plastic — likely using additive technologies (3D printing) to reduce cost and accelerate prototyping. The fuselage is cylindrical with a prominent nose fairing and a conical tail section; a straight wing of medium aspect ratio is located in the center.
Behind the wing is an X-shaped mount on which four propulsion groups are installed, with small stabilizers in the tail section. According to published illustrations, the total length of the device is approximately 300–350 mm with a corresponding wingspan; the mass is several kilograms, with the warhead accounting for a significant portion.
Based on stated tests, in 2023, the drone without a payload reportedly demonstrated a speed of up to 325 km/h in horizontal flight, and approximately 315 km/h with a warhead simulator.
Further improvements in speed characteristics were also reported, though specific values have not been disclosed. The claimed operational range is up to 25 km, with an interception altitude of up to 3 km.
These indicators make the Sting suitable for responding to close-range and low-to-medium altitude aerial threats, but leave questions open regarding energy reserves during maneuvering and flight profile changes in combat.
The Sting is an example of adapting the "asymmetric air defense" concept — where maneuverable drones capable of quickly responding to threats in the near and middle zones are used instead of traditional missile systems.
This approach allows for compensating for the shortage of expensive air defense assets and increases the flexibility of Ukrainian units in countering new-generation aerial targets.
