Estonian unmanned aerial system producer KrattWorks is developing an aerial target drone designed to mimic jet powered Shahed type drones. The project is intended to let militaries practice defeating one of the main aerial threats used by Russia in its ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

KrattWorks is promoting its unmanned systems at this year’s AUSA conference in Washington as part of its international expansion plans. The Estonian manufacturer is seeking to strengthen its presence in the United States while pursuing customers in other regions.

The project comes as producers of anti drone systems in Ukraine and other European countries work to make interceptors cheaper than the targets they are designed to destroy. Those manufacturers are also seeking systems suitable for mass production with readily available components.

Ranno Pajuri, business development manager at KrattWorks, told Defense News that the new dummy drone is expected to be presented by the end of 2027. Before that presentation, the company must complete a dependable prototype.

“We need to obtain a working prototype that is reliable enough,” Pajuri said. He added that the company has software that can be adapted to different hardware relatively easily.

The planned drone’s greater speed and differences from the company’s existing products create several variables that KrattWorks must address. Pajuri said the system must be stabilized before it is ready for a demonstration.

The Ukrainian Army is among the potential users of the proposed aerial target. KrattWorks has supplied the Ukrainian Army with one way attack drones and other systems, including its Ghost Dragon intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance drone.

KrattWorks has also delivered unmanned aerial vehicles to customers elsewhere in Europe. The company is working to expand its foothold in the United States and reach various markets in Asia and Africa.

According to KrattWorks, Ghost Dragon systems have been deployed in Estonia, Georgia and Moldova, among other locations. The manufacturer produces its drones in Estonia and says it has enough additional capacity to increase production if demand grows.

“We produce our drones in Estonia. We have enough extra capacity to ramp up the production if the demand will grow,” Pajuri said. The company is also open to transferring some production when necessary and when demand in a customer country is large enough.

The company’s existing portfolio includes the DART fixed wing aerial target, which is intended for use against air defense missiles, heavy machine guns and antiaircraft cannons. It also produces the DART-R, an aerial target decoy equipped with a radar reflector.

Company data show the DART-R can reach a maximum speed of 200 km/h, or 124 mph. KrattWorks also manufactures the PARM aerial target quadcopter.

The manufacturer said it “builds ISR drones with wide frequency band-hopping radios and GNSS-free flight modes to help first responders and servicemen to gain fast situational awareness in situations where every second counts.”

KrattWorks works closely with the Ukrainian Armed Forces and studies drone attacks occurring in Ukraine. It also examines the changing tactics used there as part of its effort to improve its products.

The company seeks to ensure its aerial target drones reflect the latest operational trends and behave realistically, according to its representative. That focus is particularly relevant as Ukraine continues confronting both piston powered and jet powered Shahed drones.

In a September 2026 report about Russia’s use of unmanned aerial vehicles against Ukraine, the Institute for Science and International Security estimated that the Russian military used 5,166 Shahed type drones against Ukrainian targets in August alone. That estimate included decoy aircraft.

The Office of the President of Ukraine said on Sept. 28 that the country’s military had achieved an overall drone shoot down rate of 70%. That figure covered both piston powered and jet powered Shaheds.

“But for jet-powered ‘Shaheds,’ unfortunately, the rate is much lower than it needs to be – 57%,” the office said. It added that new interceptors were being actively tested, with some combat teams already using them while developers continued refining details needed for sufficient effectiveness and deployment at scale.