Ukraine's AI gun turrets shot down dozens of drones over Kyiv last month

Ukraine is now using AI-controlled machine gun turrets on the battlefield to shoot down Russian drones. The country's defense innovation platform Brave1 says these automated turrets have become a key part of Ukraine's air defense, downing dozens of enemy drones over Kyiv last month.

The system uses AI to detect, lock onto and track targets, hitting fast jets like the Geran drones more accurately than human operators. One turret called Sky Sentinel can rotate 360 degrees and costs about $150,000 per unit. It can tell birds from drones, but a human still has to confirm before it fires.

Brave1 says the turrets have shot down Russian Geran-5 drones and Banderol munitions, which fly at 375 to 400 miles per hour. President Zelensky said more than ten systems are already in place around Kyiv, and orders are growing to speed up funding and production.