Helsing and JWI unveil new low-cost drone interceptors

German company Helsing has introduced the AD-2 Ambush, a rocket interceptor designed to combat the economic challenge of modern air defense. Unveiled in Berlin, the AD-2 Ambush is a solid-fuel rocket capable of speeds up to Mach 2.5 (approximately 3,000 km/h) and can operate at altitudes exceeding 9,000 meters. The system utilizes an all-weather radar seeker and artificial intelligence to identify and track targets during the terminal flight phase. It is specifically intended to intercept low-cost Russian attack drones, such as the Geran-4 and Geran-5, which are frequently used in Ukraine.

In Prague, the company JWI presented the JWI-4000, a specialized unmanned system designed to pursue and destroy enemy drones, including Iranian Shahed-136 models and their Russian derivatives. The JWI-4000 system includes a radar, a ground control station, and a compact catapult launcher. The interceptor can reach speeds of 300 km/h and operate at altitudes of 4 kilometers, with a strike range of up to 10 kilometers. Unlike direct-impact interceptors, the JWI-4000 utilizes a 1.8 kilogram thermobaric warhead to destroy targets via pressure waves, reducing the necessity for a direct hit.