Ukraine is fielding more drone-hunters than ever. Free simulator now lets operators learn each one before it reaches their hands

Ukraine is training the operators who shoot down Russian drones on a simulator, before they touch a real interceptor. The Ukrainian interceptor drones P1-SUN and Bullet were integrated into the UFDS combat-drone simulator, Drone Fight Group reported.

In the simulator, an operator can practice basic control, pursuit, and interception of aerial targets, repeat exercises an unlimited number of times, and train accuracy without using real equipment, letting Ukraine build interceptor-drone crews cheaply and safely as it fields more of the drones that down Russia's Shaheds.

The simulator uses accurate models of real drones

The two interceptors are the first real ones added to the military version. The P1-SUN by SkyFall and the Bullet by General Cherry became the first actual anti-aircraft interceptor drones integrated into UFDS Military, Drone Fight Group said.

The point is to train on what operators will actually fly. For the developers, the collaboration continues the simulator's core principle of bringing training as close as possible to get to know them in a safe digital environment.

It is free for Ukrainian troops

The training version is provided to the military at no cost. The full training version of UFDS is available free for Ukrainian soldiers, while a public version is available on Steam, and the full version is given to units individually through a form on the site.

More Ukrainian drones are being added

The developers plan to keep integrating real systems. The UFDS team intends to add more real Ukrainian drones and other uncrewed-systems solutions, giving makers a way to present their platforms to operators digitally and users a way to train on models matching real systems.

As the country fields an ever-wider range of interceptors and other drones, a simulator that mirrors the real systems lets operators learn each new platform before it reaches their hands.