US-made Tempest air defense system introduced discreetly to the battlefield. Shahed drones, the main targets
Ukrainian forces have successfully intercepted at least 21 Russian Shahed attack drones using the new Tempest short-range air defense system, according to a video released by the Central Command of the Ukrainian Air Force on Tuesday, January 13, United24 Media reports.
Tempest mobile system photo Ukrainian Air Force Central Command
According to the specialist publication Defense Express, the footage shows Ukrainian personnel operating the US-made system in what appears to be footage shot several months ago, possibly in the autumn or early winter.
Ukrainian soldiers praised the system's mobility and ability to deploy quickly, which proved essential during recent nighttime attacks in eastern Ukraine.
The Tempest system, developed by the US defense contractor V2X, was publicly presented in October 2025 at the AUSA military exhibition. At the time, the company said the system was designed to be a mobile airspace defense, having been modeled on lessons learned during the war in Ukraine.
On the other hand, there are indications that the system was already in Ukrainian service, perhaps months before its official debut.
According to the Central Command of the Ukrainian Air Force, “Such capabilities allow aircrews to work preemptively, without giving drones time to penetrate their targets.” The video footage shows that only seconds separate the detection and launch of the missile – a crucial interval for intercepting fast-moving drones such as Iran's Shahed model.
The images also indicate the deployment of the system near frontline areas where the threat posed by FPV and Lancet drones remains high. Despite the risks, deploying the Tempest system in such areas aligns with the mission of defending critical infrastructure from kamikaze drone attacks.
The Tempest system is designed to counter small, low-altitude air threats. Its compact size and rapid repositioning capabilities make it suitable for mobile air defense roles in contested environments.
The Ukrainian military highlighted the system's ability to protect both military assets and civilian infrastructure, noting that each intercepted drone represents “lives saved and facilities protected.”
Although the details of how and when Ukraine received the Tempest system are not known, Defense Express speculated that the system may have been secretly sent to Ukraine for combat testing before being publicly revealed. This approach echoes previous cases, such as the US-made Hawkeye 105mm mobile howitzer, which was tested by Ukrainian forces but ultimately deployed elsewhere.
The Ukrainian Air Force emphasizes the value of mobile air defense units operating in a constant state of readiness. According to the Central Command, these units represent “a new generation of air defense of Ukraine”, designed to respond 24/7 with high mobility and rapid employment cycles.
Earlier, it was reported that the Ukrainian Armed Forces had successfully integrated the US MQ-35A V-BAT drone into their operations, according to released images and details, which filmed them conducting reconnaissance missions and demonstrating resilience in combat conditions – marking the transition from covert testing to open operational use.
