Wild Hornets launch their own air defence network

Ukrainian drone manufacturer Wild Hornets started building its own counter-drone air defence network. The Ministry of Defence has permitted it to form air defence groups, the company said.

The air defence groups will be created within the company’s anti-Shahed unit, Night Hornets, which has operated under an arrangement with the Armed Forces since 2024. The new network will include remote control centres, remote drone launches based on Hornet Vision Ctrl technology, and field positions.

The company says it will not sell cover services for facilities, and the network’s operation will be funded with its own resources.

“Night Hornets will work where protection against Russian strike drones is needed today – as part of Ukraine’s overall air defence system under the command of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” the manufacturer said.

Night Hornets is a unit of instructors and test pilots at Wild Hornets. Since October 2024, together with military personnel, they have been developing and testing Sting interceptor drones, destroying Russian Shaheds.

In 2025, Night Hornets began training interceptor pilots, and since May 2026, they have combined training with shooting down targets by operating interceptor drones remotely.

The unit has more than 50 destroyed Shaheds to its name, including jet-powered ones. Most were shot down using the remote interceptor control technology Hornet Vision Ctrl.