Russia's Jet-Powered Shahed Drones Are Quickly Evolving
5 hours ago
- Russia has escalated its use of jet-powered one-way attack drones (Geran-3, Geran-4, Geran-5), which fly faster and higher than propeller-driven Shaheds, making them harder to intercept.
- The Geran-4, first seen in May 2025, features a purpose-built airframe, a Chinese-made turbojet engine (assembled in Russia), and reaches altitudes up to 8 km with speeds of 450–500 km/h.
- The drone is equipped with a camera (day/night/IR, 10x optical zoom), GSM modems for real-time tracking via cellular SIM cards, and a Chinese mesh modem enabling datalink control up to 300 km.
- Some Geran-4s have man-in-the-loop control, while most are pre-programmed; despite sanctions, they contain US components (e.g., Texas Instruments) and are produced at a rate of about 3,000 per month.
- Ukraine is countering with F-16s and new jet-powered interceptor drones like the Sting S, which have reportedly destroyed several Geran-4/5 drones, and production is being scaled up.
- The conflict highlights a continuous cycle of weapon evolution, with Russia improving drones and Ukraine developing cost-effective interceptors.