Priest

Our mission is to create fully autonomous drone interceptors capable of traveling at extremely high speeds in order to intercept Russian Shahed drones in Ukraine. We aim to produce these drones at a relatively cheap price point compared to current drones and scale up domestic production (sourcing only US parts). This will protect the people of Ukraine while also bolstering US manufacturing and jobs. Currently, we are designing and building a fully functional prototype, which we plan to take to Ukraine for field testing with stakeholders such as military units.

We have a unique market entry here, given that current drone interceptors are only minimally autonomous. They are only able to employ full autonomy in the last moment before a drone interceptor reaches its target. Otherwise, the drone interceptor must be completely flown by a human. It requires at least three weeks to train a human pilot to do so at a basic level. To achieve mastery, the pilot needs a lot more experience. By providing a fully autonomous drone, that requirement is no longer a serious consideration. At the same time, a fully autonomous drone could even potentially be utilized by civilians to protect themselves from drone attacks, as we’ve seen both in Ukraine and more recently in the Strait of Hormuz. Though Ukraine has seen a high degree of success in combatting Russian Shahed drones recently, Russian Shahed drone models are becoming increasingly advanced. One main way this is happening is a Russian focus on increasing the speed of Shahed drones. In order to neutralize Shahed drones, drone interceptors must be significantly faster. As Russia looks to push Shahed drones to 300 km, many current drone interceptors may prove to be ineffective, with a need for faster interceptors. Furthermore, Russia is currently developing drones to intercept the interceptors currently used by Ukraine. In order to navigate these upcoming obstacles, Ukraine will need to ensure that the effectiveness of its drones rises to meet, and hopefully surpass, Russia. Nearly all of the current drone interceptors used in Russia are manufactured with Chinese parts. While this allows for comparatively cheaper costs, it also exposes the Ukrainians to a major vulnerability. Especially considering Russian ties to China, a faltering in the Chinese supply chain for these parts, whether intentional or not, could prove catastrophic for Ukraine’s defense. Ukraine must seek to diversify its supply chain for its drone interceptors or risk serious downside. At the same time, recent developments have incentivized a return for American manufacturing in order to maintain geopolitical stability. This presents a perfect synergy between Ukraine and America in which Ukraine is able to differentiate its supply chain and America is able to bolster domestic manufacturing.