The Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, together with the Second Corps of the National Guard ‘Khartia,’ is launching an experimental project for the active protection of the city against strike FPV drones. This was announced on July 29 on Khartia Radio by the head of the KRMA, Oleh Syniehubov. If the pilot section shows results, the system is intended to be deployed around the entire city of Kharkiv — effectively creating a ‘dome’ against kamikaze drones.
According to Syniehubov, the idea has been developed jointly with the military for a week. The location of the first test is not being disclosed for security reasons. The pilot project is planned to be funded from the regional budget, and in case of success — with state funds, support from international partners, and donor programs.
Previously, the head of the KRMA specified that the northern districts of the city are primarily at risk — Shevchenkivskyi, Saltivskyi, and Kyivskyi — where drones launched from the border area most frequently reach. In most cases, the targets of the devices are gas stations and civilian transport.
Overall, the protection of Kharkiv as described by the KRMA consists of three echelons:
- Passive — a network of anti-drone nets. They are already being installed at the city’s entry points and along the ring road: in the Izium, Borova, and Lozova directions and in the north of the region. The plan is to cover the entire perimeter of the ring road with nets, as well as Kharkivske Highway from the ring road to the intersection with Akademika Proskury Street.
- Active — this refers to the technological countermeasures against drones directly in the air. This is the aforementioned pilot project that the authorities will implement together with ‘Khartia.’
- Reserve — mobile fire groups and automated turrets, which are meant to destroy targets that break through the first two layers.
For now, the KRMA is avoiding details: neither the active protection technology nor the timeline for completing the pilot have been officially announced.
