Phantom Defense details integrated C-UAV offering

Phanton Defense's Balaban fixed-wing interceptor UAV, displayed at the DroneX 2026 exhibition. (Jack Richardson)

Ukrainian company Phantom Defense outlined an integrated counter-unmanned aerial vehicle (C-UAV) offering combining detection, electronic warfare (EW), and physical interception at DroneX 2026, held in London from 29-30 September.

Chief development officer Ihor K, whose full name was withheld for security reasons, said Russia launched 55,000 Shahed-type one-way attack UAVs against Ukraine in 2025 and had the capacity to produce 70,000 annually.

At the core of Phantom's offering is its Kupol command-and-control (C2) platform, which integrates company-developed and third-party sensors and effectors. The platform combines detection data into a shared air picture and enables operators to activate, configure, and control EW equipment remotely. It supports the SAPIENT protocol for integrating additional assets.

The detection layer includes the Streamhunter video-signal interceptor, Radiotrex radio-frequency direction finder, and Skydarix radar. According to Phantom, Streamhunter operates across 800 MHz–8 GHz, intercepts UAV video transmissions at ranges of up to 30 km, and supports up to five simultaneous reception channels, with a signal detection time of less than one second. Radiotrex covers 300 MHz–8 GHz and has a stated line-of-sight range of up to 30 km.

Skydarix provides 360° surveillance, with company-stated detection ranges of up to 20 km against fixed-wing UAVs and 5 km against first-person-view (FPV) and other small UAVs. It supports SAPIENT and ASTERIX interfaces and uses artificial intelligence for UAV classification.

EW effectors include the Specter family. The vehicle-mounted Specter XL weighs 26 kg, covers 645–1,050 MHz and the 2.4 and 5.8 GHz bands, and can operate while the vehicle is moving. Phantom specifies two hours of battery operation, with vehicle power also supported.