Ukrainian defense firm F-Drones has launched an upgraded version of its LITAVR unmanned aerial system (UAS), built to intercept Russia’s jet-powered Shahed kamikaze drones at speeds exceeding 400 kilometers (249 miles) per hour.
F-Drones CEO Stanislav Khutor confirmed in an interview with local Ukrainian outlet LB.ua that the new LITAVR+ interceptor has passed factory testing and is now undergoing live simulations.
The company said the UAS is now available for procurement by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Inside the LITAVR+
While retaining the architecture of its predecessor, the LITAVR+ integrates upgraded engines, proprietary flight controllers, GPS-free navigation, automated target tracking, and improved performance in contested electromagnetic environments.
The baseline LITAVR model has a top speed of 350 kilometers (217 miles) per hour, an operational radius of 40 kilometers (25 miles), and a service ceiling of 9,000 meters (29,528 feet).
It carries a 500-gram (18-ounce) warhead in its nose and can remain airborne for up to 15 minutes.
“As before, it has many useful features — allowing the mission to be completed without pilot intervention,” Khutor said. “And, of course, remote control technology, when the pilot controls the drone from virtually anywhere in the world.”
Since entering service, the LITAVR has seen action with Kyiv’s Unmanned Systems Forces, recording intercepts at distances of up to 84 kilometers (52 miles).
Expanding US Footprint
Before the LITAVR+ upgrade, F-Drones delivered 2,000 of its F10 strike drones to the US military under the Pentagon’s Drone Dominance program.
The company is also building a manufacturing facility in Ohio through its US representative, UDD Tech Corp, to assemble US-compliant drones under license.
