Russia’s drones are getting faster and deadlier. The West is racing to catch up.
Jet-powered drones are wreaking havoc in Ukraine. Defense companies are building a new class of interceptors to defeat them.
Ukrainian and Western defense firms are racing to develop faster interceptor drones capable of countering Russia's increasingly deadly jet-powered weapons. Russia's Geran-5 drone, which can fly at up to 375 mph, has become a significant threat to Ukrainian cities. Previously, Ukraine's interceptor drones, designed to combat slower propeller-powered drones, have been rapidly upgraded to deal with the newer, faster models.
US and European defense companies are also investing heavily in developing new interceptors with enhanced speed to meet the evolving Russian threat. The Geran-5 drone, resembling a cruise missile, has become a key component in Russia's escalating drone attack strategy against Ukraine. In August, Russia launched 2,800 jet-powered drones, nearly triple the number from June.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported a significant decline in interception rates for these faster drones, with only 55% of them being shot down in August. The escalating threat has prompted defense firms in Europe to accelerate their efforts in developing next-generation interceptors with the capability to match Russia's fastest drones.
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