Jet-powered Shaheds make up as much as two-thirds of some Russian drone attacks, Ukrainian official says
Russia's jet-powered drones are more challenging to intercept than their predecessors powered by propellers.
Russian military forces are increasingly deploying jet-powered attack drones, accounting for up to two-thirds of those used in some Ukrainian attacks, according to a Ukrainian official. The Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson, Col. Yurii Ihnat, revealed that these high-speed drones are more challenging to intercept compared to their earlier propeller-driven counterparts.
This shift in strategy reflects Russia's growing reliance on jet-powered drones, which can reach speeds up to 375 mph, outnumbering propeller-driven Geran-2 drones by a significant margin. The Geran-3 and Geran-4 models, powered by mini turbojet engines, can cruise at over 200 and 310 mph, respectively. Ukraine has reported intercepting over 90% of Russian cruise missiles and Geran-2 drones, but the adoption of faster jet-powered variants presents a more formidable challenge for the country's defense.
Russia has been enhancing its air bases to support the launch of these high-speed drones, which can strike targets hundreds of miles away. Ukraine's defense companies are developing advanced interceptor drones to counter the increased threat from jet-powered aircraft, including the P1-Sun JetKiller, which has already downed over a dozen such threats.
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