Ukraine has publicly unveiled its Dragon short-range air defense system after about 18 months of combat use, showcasing a domestically developed platform designed to counter Russian drone attacks while reducing reliance on scarce surface-to-air missiles.
The system was presented at the Eurosatory 2026 defense exhibition in Paris by Ukraine's Center of Innovative Technologies Program.
Dragon is designed to intercept low-altitude threats, particularly Shahed-type attack drones, by adapting existing air-to-air missiles for ground launch. The system can use a range of Soviet-era and Western missiles, including the R-60, R-73 and AIM-9M Sidewinder, allowing Ukraine to draw from existing inventories while preserving more advanced air defense interceptors.
According to the developers, the Dragon can operate for up to eight hours in active mode and remain on standby for up to 14 days. The system requires about 15 minutes to deploy and can be ready to fire within two minutes.
Ukraine says the platform has already been integrated into its layered air defense network, where it helps defend against drones and other low-flying aerial threats. The system uses a distributed architecture that separates sensors from launchers, allowing operators to control launch units remotely and reducing vulnerability to Russian strikes.
Current interceptor options provide engagement ranges from 6.5 kilometers for upgraded R-60 missiles to as much as 15 kilometers for R-73 missiles. An indigenous ST-100 interceptor with a planned range of 10 kilometers is also under development.
Dragon is available in both trailer-mounted and armored self-propelled configurations, enabling deployment for fixed-site defense as well as protection of maneuvering military units.
The unveiling highlights Ukraine's growing focus on developing cost-effective air defense systems capable of countering large numbers of drones. The program also reflects Kyiv's broader effort to build a sustainable domestic missile industry while adapting existing Soviet and Western weapons for new battlefield roles.
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