Autonomous turrets in Kyiv

Autonomous turrets have shot down dozens of enemy drones above Kyiv, according to Brave1, a Ukrainian organization that connects ministries, armed forces, and private actors.

Private air defense initiative

These turrets are part of the Private Air Defense initiative, which allows private companies to buy air defense equipment to protect personnel, production sites, and energy infrastructure from enemy drones.

Development timeline

Brave1 started working on these autonomous turrets in 2024, with a glimpse of the technology shown in 2025 through the Sky Sentinel system. Designed by Carmine Sky, the M2 Brewing 50 caliber turret can pivot 360 degrees and is controlled by an AI capable of scanning the airspace, identifying threats, and locking on aerial targets.

Turret capabilities

A Ukrainian commander told Business Insider in June 2025 that the turret can calculate the speed and trajectory of targets to determine the exact firing point. However, the turret requires a human operator to authorize the firing.

Cost and use

The cost of the turret is approximately 150,000 dollars, significantly cheaper than drones or single-use interceptor missiles. These weapons are now an integral part of the air defense of the Ukrainian armed forces, used to neutralize threats such as the Geran-5 drones and Banderol cruise missiles.

Turret limitations

However, the turrets have a limited range, making them more useful as a last resort against low-altitude targets. Brave1, in collaboration with the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, is seeking to expand their deployment across the country.

AI-powered ground robot

In addition to defense, Ukraine is using AI to animate a ground robot for a 20 kilometer resupply mission. The Lava unmanned systems regiment, part of the 2nd Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine, highlighted that this mission was the first of its kind in combat conditions.

Robot's performance

Andrii Kopach, commander of the battalion, stated that the mission demonstrated that autonomous ground systems are already capable of functioning in real combat conditions. The robot covered 93% of its journey in full autonomy but required the help of a human operator for 1.4 kilometers.

Operator's new role

Kopach explained that the most important change is that the operator is no longer a pilot but a dispatcher, monitoring the robot's movements and intervening only when necessary. His unit aims to allow a single operator to supervise several robots simultaneously and to extend autonomous missions to casualty evacuations.

Reducing reliance on Starlink

This would allow the Ukrainian army to rely less on a permanent control link such as Starlink during war. Elon Musk's network has helped Kyiv defend against Moscow but was recently restricted for several days amid tensions with Washington, affecting operations on the ground in the country.