Ukraine's Ministry of Defence has cleared the new high-speed interceptor drone "Air Baby 350," developed by Strix Air, for operational use. The machine is rated for speeds of up to 350 km/h and, according to the manufacturer, is already being actively employed by units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to intercept enemy drones.
Official clearance and tactical specifications
As Vlad Dmytrenko, project manager for Strix Air's interceptors, reported, the key features of the new modification are a speed of 350 km/h, improved maneuverability and flight stability, power from 12s-format battery packs, and increased airframe reliability. "The Air Baby 350 is already being actively used by AFU units," he emphasized. Thus, the interceptor has moved from the testing stage into the phase of standard-issue equipment.
Combat experience: more than a thousand targets in seven months
The first version of the Air Baby interceptor was released by the manufacturer in early 2026, and deliveries to units of Ukraine's defense forces began as early as February. According to the company, over seven months of operation this year, the Air Baby line has destroyed more than a thousand aerial targets. These figures reflect the intensity of interceptor drone use within the air defense system amid massive strikes by enemy 'Shaheds.'
Procurement routes: Dot-Chain and electronic points
At the time of publication, the Air Baby 350 interceptor is at the contract-signing stage with the procurement joint-stock company. Strix Air reported that the machine will soon appear on the Dot-Chain Defence platform and will be available for purchase using electronic points. This continues the trend toward centralizing drone procurement through a dedicated weapons marketplace, as previously reported by RBC-Ukraine.
Lineup development: a 450 km/h version
The manufacturer is already developing a high-speed version of the interceptor capable of operating at speeds of up to 450 km/h. In doing so, the company is building in a performance margin to counter faster aerial targets and is accelerating the pace of the technological race in the interceptor drone segment.
Context: growth of robotic systems at the front
The introduction of the Air Baby 350 comes against the backdrop of a broader expansion of the AFU's robotic equipment fleet. As RBC-Ukraine previously reported, the number of missions carried out by ground robotic systems has grown 3.3-fold since the start of 2026, and more than 25,000 logistics and evacuation tasks were completed at the front in August alone. Contract volumes for unmanned ground vehicles this year have nearly doubled last year's figures, indicating a systematic increase in the role of autonomous and semi-autonomous equipment in combat operations.
