Phantom Defense buys Karakurt, adds net-launching drone killer to its arsenal
What's the deal? Ukrainian defence technology company Phantom DefenseDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → has acquired Karakurt SavunmaDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, the developer of the Karakurt net launchers, including its full business and team. The terms were undisclosed.
What does Karakurt do? The Karakurt system intercepts uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) without kinetic impact, deploying a net that entangles a drone's rotors to stop its flight. Downed drones can be captured intact for examination or reuse by Ukraine's forces.
By the numbers: Military units have deployed more than 50,000 Karakurt kits over the past six months, according to Phantom Defense. A programme offering free consumable replacements in exchange for video evidence has logged over 5,000 confirmed interceptions.
What's new? Building on the deal, Phantom Defense is launching MANGAL, a close-range net interception system folded into its counter-UAS ecosystem. It provides point-defence air cover for military vehicles, stationary positions, and uncrewed ground vehicles.
How it works: MANGAL pairs artificial intelligence with daylight and thermal cameras to detect and identify aerial threats, then fires a net to entangle the target. The modular system carries six net launchers, engages targets at 5 to 15 metres, and runs 8 hours or more on its battery.
The signal: The acquisition folds a proven battlefield tool into a broader counter-drone platform, reflecting a wartime push to consolidate net-capture technology as an alternative to kinetic defences. For Phantom Defense, owning the hardware and the data it generates deepens its position in a fast-growing C-UAS market.
Read more: unmannedairspace.info
Image credit: Generated with Gemini
