Video released on 22 January shows a Ukrainian-made interceptor drone striking a Russian Shahed-type loitering munition during an overnight attack, with a second Ukrainian drone filming the engagement from close range.

The footage appears to show two interceptors from adjacent units operating in the same airspace, with one assigned to the kill and the other to observation and recording.

According to SkyFall, the Ukrainian company that manufactures the P1-SUN interceptor, the drone approached the Shahed from below and moved under its wing before detonating. The company said the blast broke the target into fragments in flight. The video, published by Ukrainian defence media, captures the intercept at short distance, indicating the filming platform was operating near the engagement envelope rather than recording from the ground.

SkyFall describes P1-SUN as a high-speed, short-range interceptor built to target Russian one-way attack drones. In comments relayed by Ukrainian outlets, the company said the aircraft exceeds 300 km/h, can climb to around 5,000 metres, has a flight range of about 23 kilometres, and can remain airborne for more than 17 minutes. It is described as carrying up to 800 grams of explosive payload for a proximity or contact detonation against unmanned targets.

The engagement footage is being presented as an example of coordinated counter-drone tactics, with multiple unmanned systems used simultaneously against a single incoming target. In practical terms, a second drone tasked with filming can also provide confirmation of intercept, assist with visual tracking, and help identify debris fall patterns, though SkyFall’s public comments focused on the recording aspect rather than operational roles. Ukrainian forces have increasingly relied on layered air defence against Shahed-type attacks, combining missiles, guns, electronic warfare and, more recently, interceptor drones designed to reduce the cost of shooting down low-cost aerial threats.

SkyFall says the P1-SUN is largely sourced domestically. The company has stated that roughly 90 per cent of components are Ukrainian-made and that the only imported element currently is the camera, which it plans to localise. Developers have also said they are working on higher speed and longer endurance, suggesting the platform remains in active iteration alongside operational use.

The firm has also described the system as designed for varying levels of automation, including remote control and the prospect of pilotless operation, as well as launch options from different carrier types. Such claims align with wider Ukrainian efforts to scale unmanned production and standardise platforms that can be deployed by different units with minimal bespoke support. SkyFall has forecast that P1-SUN interceptors could destroy more than 300 Shahed-type drones per month from January, though the company did not publicly detail assumptions behind that rate.

The 22 January video follows earlier reporting of P1-SUN being used against faster targets. Ukrainian outlet Militarnyi reported an intercept on 25 December 2025 involving a jet-powered Shahed modification, with external reporting describing speeds above those associated with standard Shahed-136-type drones.

P1-SUN was introduced to international audiences in late 2025. Reporting connected to Bloomberg and other defence outlets said SkyFall displayed the interceptor at the Dubai Airshow in November 2025, describing it as modular and built around a 3D-printed airframe. United24 Media reported that a company representative said SkyFall was producing the system in the thousands each month. Defence industry reporting from the same event described SkyFall’s wider push to build partnerships and position its products for export, subject to regulatory approvals.

The appearance of cooperative interceptor footage underscores the extent to which counter-drone combat is shifting towards unmanned-on-unmanned engagements. For Ukraine, which faces recurring mass drone strikes, the operational question is not only whether a particular interceptor can hit a target, but whether it can be produced, deployed and replenished at scale. SkyFall’s claims about domestic sourcing, automation and monthly production volumes are aimed at that requirement.