16 July 2026
Fifty-one companies have already joined a pilot project to deploy a private air defense system.
This was reported by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
According to the ministry, all of these companies have been granted authorization to carry out air defense operations.
The number of project participants continues to grow rapidly. By comparison, as recently as June, only 30 companies were involved.
Currently, air defense units formed by four companies are carrying out combat missions.
They have already shot down more than 50 drones, including Shahed-type attack drones and Zala reconnaissance UAVs.
In total, 62 companies of various ownership structures, representing different economic sectors and regions of Ukraine, have submitted applications to participate in the program.
Among them are critical infrastructure operators and facilities, as well as private-sector companies.
Private air defense
The possibility of establishing private air defense emerged in November 2025. First and foremost, operators of critical infrastructure, energy, transportation, and telecommunications companies, water supply enterprises, and other strategically important facilities, are invited to participate.
At the same time, other organizations that have the necessary resources and meet the established security requirements may also join the project.
A mobile fire group fires at air targets. Photo credits: Air Command South
Air defense groups formed on the basis of such enterprises will operate exclusively under orders from military command and will act within the unified command and control system of the Air Force.
These enterprises will be able to procure or receive air defense equipment in coordination with the military command or through procedures approved by the Ministry of Defense. Such units will consist of employees who have undergone the necessary selection and vetting, including by the Security Service of Ukraine.
Examples of private air defense
The Ukrainian company Carmine Sky has already deployed towers equipped with Sky Sentinel remotely controlled combat modules across Ukraine as part of a private air defense project.
The systems are equipped with automated turrets based on the M2 Browning large-caliber machine gun. Control is carried out using a standard gaming controller, and air situation monitoring is provided by a camera with machine vision capabilities.
The remotely controlled Turkish Sky Sentinel turret. April 10, 2026. Source: DW in Ukrainian
The system is capable of independently detecting, tracking, and engaging aerial targets. Meanwhile, the operator, who may be located hundreds of kilometers away from the system’s deployment site, merely makes the decision to open fire.
According to Carmine Sky, the currently reported effectiveness of the Sky Sentinel systems has reached 85%.
That’s great news for Ukraine, which has been made to suffer from mafia land’s only card left: the slaughtering of civilians. That’s a lot of knowhow combined to achieve a common goal to protect the country’s women and children.