Interceptor drone from Russia: “Project Ghost” relies on AI-based target recognition

A new interceptor drone comes from Russian engineers of “Project Prizrak” (Ghost). The goal was a compact, portable system that can be deployed without additional equipment. Like the well-known Yolka model, Prizrak can take off from a hand-held catapult, but can also be launched directly by hand.

The configuration can be changed quickly before launch. Warhead and cameras (daylight, starlight camera, thermal imaging, infrared) are interchangeable depending on target or time of day, as are propellers with different pitch and batteries with varying capacity.

At present the system works mainly in manual mode – at night, for example, a target can be illuminated by infrared. The Prizrak drone's algorithms, however, are to be continuously improved with real data. The developers therefore publicly asked for videos and photos of drone overflights, taken at different times of day, against various backgrounds and from various angles – including large quadcopters, octocopters, hexacopters and other unmanned aerial vehicles.

The more data we feed it, the more precisely it will perform the task of target detection. Search your phones, send the post to friends and colleagues and share it on other channels – this will significantly support further development— Developers' channel

First and foremost, the drone is to optically detect and engage low-flying attack drones in the airspace.

How the interceptor drone is launched and guided

In the first variants, the drone is launched by hand using a special launching device that carries a thermal imaging camera (for night mode) or a conventional camera. The operator sees the target on a monitor, locks onto it and steers the drone towards it; machine vision then takes over tracking. If the target is not intercepted, the drone can be recalled.

In the longer term, the aim is a drone that the operator can launch from a greater distance by remote activation. On site, it then monitors the airspace continuously in scan mode. Once the operator has confirmed the target, he triggers it and the interceptor drone launches automatically.