Russia’s jet drones fly near 600 km/h now. Ukraine is building simulators for the 900 km/h ones it expects next

Russia's jet-powered attack drones have the potential to reach speeds of 800-900 km/h in the future, presenting a significant challenge for Ukraine's defense. Currently, these drones are flying at around 600 km/h, but Ukraine's interceptors have not encountered such high speeds, according to Deputy Commander of Ukraine's Air Force, Colonel Yurii Cherevashenko.

The air war is evolving from a contest of volume to one of raw speed, requiring new piloting skills for Ukraine's interceptors. In November 2025, Ukrainian interceptors reportedly downed their first jet-powered Shahed. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukrainian interceptors have successfully downed 85-90% of Russia's slower, propeller-driven drones, but the jet models pose a more significant challenge.

Zelenskyy reported a 57% interception rate for jet-drone interceptors, which is below the required level. Ukrainian interceptor-drone makers are being tasked with building simulators to train crews for the high-speed targets they will face. While Ukraine is testing five interceptor-drone models and could produce about 400 of one by the end of October, Colonel Cherevashenko stated that jet-drone interceptors will not be ready before the end of November. Despite efforts, almost half of the jet-powered Shaheds still manage to evade Ukrainian defenses.