How Ukrainian crews adapt to shoot down jet-powered Shahed drones

Ukrainian air defense crews from the 39th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment of the Western Operational Command are countering new Russian tactics involving jet-powered Shahed drones in western Ukraine, using American Avenger systems and Soviet-era Osa complexes. The Avenger crew, including soldiers Dmytro and Pavlo, operates in round-the-clock readiness, using thermal imaging to detect and destroy Shaheds at night, with the system automatically determining optimal firing conditions. The Osa complex provides autonomous target detection, tracking, and destruction capabilities. Russian forces have shifted to launching drones at 6-7 kilometers altitude with higher speeds, reducing engagement time for defenders. Ukrainian forces report intercepting approximately 70 percent of Shaheds, with mobile anti-aircraft units accounting for nearly half of all downed drones.