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Ministry of Defence procures 8,000 Octopus interceptors for the Defence Forces of Ukraine

Several Octopus unmanned aerial vehicles lined up in a field.
Scaling up the production of interceptors to strengthen air defence and increase the number of targets destroyed

The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine procures 8,000 Octopus interceptors for the Defence Forces. This decision is aimed at strengthening air defence and increasing the number of interceptions of enemy aerial targets.

Scaling up proven solutions

Octopus is an interceptor developed within the Armed Forces of Ukraine to counter Shahed-type attack drones, featuring automatic terminal guidance. The system has already proven effective in combat.

A total of 29 Ukrainian companies that have obtained the relevant licences, as well as the United Kingdom Government, have joined the production efforts. Four manufacturers have already signed state contracts for supply.

This approach enables rapid technology scaling and ensures that the Defence Forces of Ukraine are equipped with the necessary capabilities.

Opening up military technologies for production

Scaling became possible following a government decision that enabled the transfer of military technologies to Ukrainian manufacturers. Previously, no such mechanism existed.

The state has systematically opened access to military developments to support its scaling through Ukraine’s defence industry, while preserving intellectual property rights.

Effectiveness on the battlefield

The Octopus interceptor has demonstrated consistent effectiveness under diverse operational conditions:

  • destroys targets day and night;
  • operates in an electronic warfare (EW) environment;
  • remains effective at low altitudes.

“The Ministry of Defence provides a full end-to-end scaling cycle — from technology transfer to procurement and delivery to the forces. This enables the rapid expansion of production and helps meet frontline requirements. At the same time, it supports the development of Ukraine’s defence industry and serves as an example of an effective public-private partnership, where combat technologies are rapidly scaled into serial production. Under the President’s directive, we are scaling effective air defence solutions to achieve the following goals: 100% detection and at least 95% neutralisation of enemy aerial targets,” said Ukraine’s Minister of Defence Mykhailo Fedorov.

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