European defense firms are arming Ukraine with a new steel ball-blasting rocket, exposing the urgent need for cost-effective solutions against drone warfare as America’s own border security battles continue at home.

Story Snapshot

• Europe supplies Ukraine with a 70 mm Thales rocket equipped with a steel ball-dispersing warhead to counter mass drone attacks.
• Traditional air defense systems have proven too costly and unsustainable for the scale of drone threats faced by Ukraine.
• The upgraded rocket offers a low-cost, highly effective response to Iranian-made Shahed drones used by Russia.
• This shift reflects broader trends: rising European defense innovation and a growing divide between U.S. and EU security priorities.

Europe’s Steel Ball Rocket: The Newest Weapon in Ukraine’s Arsenal

European defense contractors, led by France’s Thales Group, have delivered a 70 mm laser-guided rocket featuring the FZ123 warhead to Ukrainian forces. This advanced munition is designed to disperse thousands of steel balls mid-flight, essentially functioning as a massive airborne shotgun. Its primary target: the Iranian-made Shahed drones deployed by Russian forces. These drones, cheap and expendable, have overwhelmed conventional Ukrainian air defenses, forcing a rapid search for more affordable, scalable countermeasures. The Thales rocket offers a significant reduction in per-shot cost and is already being used in active combat, marking a major shift in European military assistance strategy.

The emergence of this rocket technology comes after years of Ukrainian reliance on expensive Western missile systems. Traditional air defense assets like NASAMS and IRIS-T, while effective, were never designed to address the onslaught of low-cost drone swarms. With the war’s escalation since 2022, Ukraine’s need for a scalable solution became critical, prompting the adaptation of existing 70mm munitions for anti-drone roles. The FZ123’s shotgun-like dispersal pattern maximizes the chance of hitting fast, small targets and has proven effective in field tests and operational deployments since September 2025. This innovation underscores how necessity is driving rapid changes in battlefield technology, particularly as European nations seek to support Ukraine while managing their own defense budgets.

Europe is making a cheap anti-drone rocket for Ukraine that blasts a cloud of steel balls

The FZ123 warhead disperses thousands of small steel balls that intercept an enemy dronehttps://t.co/ZExrAi2eGG

— El Goyo (@PopovMx) October 7, 2025

Cost, Innovation, and the Shift in Air Defense Doctrine

The steel ball rocket’s biggest advantage is clear: dramatic cost savings. European manufacturers and Ukrainian officials report that per-shot costs using the Thales system are a fraction of those associated with conventional air defense missiles. This affordability enables Ukraine to intercept more drones without depleting their limited supply of expensive munitions. In the short term, Ukrainian infrastructure and military assets receive better protection, while in the long term, this development could reshape air defense doctrines across Europe. The European Union continues to fund wider anti-drone initiatives, including electronic warfare and border defense projects to guard against similar threats at home.

While this rocket represents a breakthrough, some defense analysts caution that kinetic solutions alone will not suffice as drone technology evolves. The most effective national defense will require layered responses—combining affordable kinetic interceptors like the Thales rocket with advanced electronic countermeasures and AI-driven detection. Still, the operational success of these new munitions in Ukraine serves as strong proof of concept, demonstrating the value of rapid innovation in response to emerging threats. As the EU deepens its investment in both offensive and defensive technologies, the contrast with American priorities—particularly the ongoing debate over border security and constitutional protections—becomes increasingly pronounced.

Broader Implications: Security, Sovereignty, and Conservative Values

The deployment of these anti-drone rockets highlights a global trend: the need for practical, affordable solutions to defend national sovereignty. For American conservatives, the situation in Ukraine serves as a stark reminder of what happens when a nation’s borders and defenses are left vulnerable—echoing frustrations with prior U.S. policies that prioritized globalist agendas over securing America’s own borders and upholding constitutional rights. The European pivot toward innovation and cost-effective defense stands in contrast to the bureaucratic overspending and lack of prioritization seen under the previous U.S. administration. As Europe arms Ukraine with scalable, sensible technology, American patriots demand the same focus on protecting our own homeland, preserving the Second Amendment, and rejecting policies that enable government overreach or undermine family and community security.

Ultimately, the success of Ukraine’s new anti-drone rockets offers a clear lesson: strong borders and practical defense measures are essential to national survival. As the U.S. faces its own security challenges, many are calling for Washington to adopt a similar spirit of innovation—one that puts American interests, constitutional freedoms, and the safety of our families first. Anything less would be a disservice to the principles that built this nation and a failure to learn from the hard-won lessons now playing out across Europe.

Watch the report: Europe Builds “Drone Wall” With Ukraine To Counter Russia’s Drone Warfare Threat

Sources:

Europe is making a cheap anti-drone rocket for Ukraine that blasts a cloud of steel balls
They work like a shotgun: Ukraine began shooting down Shaheeds with Thales missiles
EU eyes building drone wall: question is what is it?
Interceptor drones are Europe’s new hope for downing Russian Shaheds
New weapon against Shaheeds: What is known and how much does the Thales mini-missile cost with which Ukraine shoots down drones?