SkyFall unveils P1-SUN Long, a new interceptor drone featuring an integrated AI module

Ukrainian defence tech company SkyFall has unveiled a new version of its interceptor drone, the P1-SUN Long. The system was presented at the Eurosatory 2026 defence exhibition in Paris.

Compared with the baseline P1-SUN interceptor, the new version features an integrated AI module for autonomous target detection and engagement.

According to the company, the P1-SUN Long has already been combat-tested and is being successfully deployed on the battlefield. The interceptor has reportedly achieved dozens of confirmed Shahed drone kills.

SkyFall says the P1-SUN Long’s technological foundation is a new AI-powered terminal guidance system developed by the company’s R&D team. The technology enables the interceptor to detect and lock onto hostile targets faster than the human eye.

Depending on the optical payload used, the system can detect targets at distances of up to one kilometre. The company emphasises that the AI module takes over the most demanding tasks in the engagement process, including target detection, tracking and lock retention.

SkyFall has also implemented a remote software update system for the P1-SUN Long, allowing neural network algorithms to be upgraded remotely in the field without returning drones to the manufacturer.

The developers emphasise that the effectiveness of AI algorithms depends primarily on the quality of training datasets. According to the company, SkyFall trains its artificial intelligence system using thousands of hours of real-world flight data and simulations, as well as a proprietary target platform that replicates the thermal signature of a Shahed drone. Additional data is collected through cooperation with partners.

The P1-SUN Long is also integrated with SkyFall’s remote-control system, enabling operators to control the interceptor from anywhere in the world, provided a stable internet connection is available.

According to SkyFall, unlike many comparable solutions, the P1-SUN Long’s AI module runs on a standard CPU and does not require expensive and hard-to-source graphics processing units (GPUs). The company believes this approach will help maintain production stability even amid global shortages of specialised hardware.

SkyFall says the P1-SUN Long modification marks an important step toward deploying a fully autonomous air-defence system designed to intercept Shahed-type drones. The company’s ultimate goal is to build a unified ecosystem in which all SkyFall drone platforms can independently detect, identify and engage targets.

On 12 June, Defender Media reported that SkyFall and Airbus Defence and Space had signed a memorandum of understanding on a strategic partnership.