{
  "id": 10008646,
  "title": "Combat shows speed alone can’t catch Russia’s jet-powered drones, despite eight Ukrainian makers’ assurances. So why can’t they stop them?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/26/combat-shows-speed-alone-cant-catch-russias-jet-powered-drones",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-26T15:48:44.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Euromaidan Press",
    "slug": "euromaidan-press",
    "url": "https://euromaidanpress.com/2026/09/26/combat-shows-speed-alone-cant-catch-russias-jet-powered-drones-despite-eight-ukrainian-makers-assurances-so-why-cant-they-stop-them/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Ukrainian companies had assured the defense minister last winter that their interceptors were ready to bring down Russia's jet-powered drones. However, combat testing revealed that these interceptors lacked crucial features needed to chase the evasive jet-powered Geran drones, according to presidential adviser Serhii Beskrestnov, known as Flash. The Russian Geran can reach speeds of 450 to 500 kilometers per hour, maneuver differently to avoid defenses, and become more aggressive when confronted by interceptors. Flash explained that catching a jet Geran requires not just speed, but also agility, machine-vision target-lock, and enough fuel to search and loiter. While Ukraine's cheap interceptors have managed to down approximately half of Russia's slower drones, the jet-powered systems have continued to outpace them. The eight companies that claimed readiness last winter failed to provide consistent updates during the weeks following a meeting called by then-defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov. Additionally, there were too few jet Gerans flying at the time for thorough testing. Flash emphasized that the hardest part of designing an effective interceptor is creating a machine agile enough to chase a maneuverable Geran drone, which becomes more disruptive once the interceptor arrives. He added that automatic target capture by machine vision and automatic terminal guidance are essential components. Building a fleet that can blanket the entire country is not feasible at this stage, as Ukraine needs a proven design that works for various crews and is easy to launch, operate, and maintain. Once such a design is validated, scaling up production will be a matter of funding. Meanwhile, the development of interceptors is ongoing, with a recent Ukrainian interceptor successfully downing a jet Geran and progressing toward mass production.",
  "summary": "Eight makers said their interceptors were ready last winter. They weren't.",
  "key_points": [
    "Ukrainian interceptors failed combat tests against jet-powered Geran drones",
    "Russian Geran drones reach 450-500 km/h speeds, maneuver differently",
    "Effective interceptors need agility, machine-vision target-lock, fuel"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Euromaidan Press",
        "title": "Built by Ukrainian officers from real combat, DWAC course is now “NATO Selected”",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/26/built-by-ukrainian-officers-from-real-combat-dwac-course-is-now-nato",
        "published": "2026-09-26T12:50:19.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}