Ukraine Is Testing In Combat A New US Mobile Anti-Drone Weapons System

The US has provided Ukraine with a classified number of new Tempest mobile air defense systems armed with Longbow missiles. Ukraine is testing the prototype in combat at the front. 

The new system was designed to reflect the realities imposed by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It has already shot down Shahed drones. The cost of the Longbow at $100,000 each is not cheap, but if it is effective enough, may become a standard. JL

Defense Express reports:

Ukraine has received a new American Tempest air defense missile system for testing on the frontline and improving the prototype. It is a mobile version, built on the principle of making a mobile and cheap drone-killer based on Ukrainian war experience versus Russia. The Tempest air defense system uses AGM-114L Longbow missiles to engage targets, costing up to $100,000, which for intercepting Shahed-type drones is quite expensive. 

Ukrainian Defense Forces may have received a new American Tempest air defense missile system it can be identified in a video published by Air Command Center in New Year greetings.

 

Currently it's unclear how many Tempest air defense systems Ukraine could receive. Considering this is a new American development, it can be assumed we received one or several prototypes for testing and further improving this weapon type.

As a reminder, the Tempest air defense system was first presented in 2025, quite recently at the AUSA 2025 exhibition held in October several months ago.

This is a V2X company development existing in two variants on a trailer for protecting stationary objects, and in a mobile version, built on the principle of making a mobile and cheap drone-killer based on russian Ukrainian war experience.

 

However, how cheap operating such an air defense system will be is a debatable question. On the one hand, this is indeed an optimal solution for so-called MFGs (mobile fire groups) based on inexpensive COTS buggies.

But on the other hand, the Tempest air defense system uses AGM-114L Longbow missiles to engage targets, costing up to $100,000, which for intercepting Shahed-type drones is quite expensive pleasure.

New American Tempest air defense missile system / Photo credit: Army Recognition

Although of course, in conditions where russians increase production of this weaponry, we are forced to use such not-very-cheap options to destroy strike drones.