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Views: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2026-09-09 Origin: Site
The Geran UAV can reach speeds of up to 600 km/h, posing a significant tactical challenge to Ukraine's air defense systems and compelling the enemy to seek new interception methods.
Recent aerial operations have witnessed a significant technological shift, as Russia has intensified its deployment of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Compared to traditional propeller-driven drones, these UAVs operate at higher speeds and follow more complex flight paths, posing entirely new interception challenges to Ukraine's air defense network.
Schematic diagram of the Russian Geran-4 jet-powered UAV model.
Schematic diagram of the Russian GRAN-4 jet-powered UAV. Image source: IntelliNews
The transition from piston engines to jet engines.
Since the autumn of 2022, Russia has extensively deployed the Shahed drone – originally designed in Iran but later produced domestically under the name Geran – in its military operations. These drones are equipped with turboprop engines, operate at low flight altitudes and relatively slow speeds, and generate a distinctive noise signature. Leveraging these characteristics, the Ukrainian military has gradually established an effective low-altitude interception network using machine guns and mobile air defense artillery systems.
To overcome speed limitations and counter low-altitude air defense systems, Ukraine has deployed a jet-powered variant of the "Gran" missile. Ukraine's military intelligence service issued a warning regarding this variant as early as September 2025, and its deployment on the battlefield was recorded in January 2026. In recent months, the frequency of this weapon's deployment has increased rapidly.
According to Ukrainian authorities' data, the number of jet-powered drones detected in July was estimated at approximately 1,500, rising to around 3,000 in August. Although independent data cannot fully confirm this figure, the actual situation indicates a significant shift in the weapons and equipment used for these air strikes.
The diagram shows the Russian Geran-5 jet-powered UAV.
The image shows a Russian-made Glon-5 jet-powered UAV, whose flight speed and altitude far exceed those of the Ukrainian interceptor drones. Image source: Kyiv Post
Technical specifications and air defense network pressure.
The jet engine endows the Glon series of aircraft with significant technical advantages in terms of speed, service ceiling, and explosive loads. According to Ukrainian military officials, the maximum speed of these jet-powered aircraft can reach nearly 600 km/h (approximately 370 mph), which is nearly three times the speed of the previously available propeller-driven models.
The Russian Ministry of Defense has confirmed that the Gorilla-3 prototype has been deployed in actual combat operations. Russian military experts state that the Gorilla-3 can reach speeds of over 400 km/h during dive attacks on targets, and it has been equipped with an upgraded electronic warfare countermeasures system as well as a coordinated squadron guidance system.
Schematic diagram of the Russian Geran-3 unmanned aerial vehicle.
The image shows a schematic diagram of the Russian Glon-3 UAV, which can reach a maximum speed of 370 km/h and has a range of up to 1,000 km. Image source: Ukrainian Voice.
High-speed flight significantly reduces the reaction time of air defense units and the available window for issuing civil evacuation warnings. The mobile interception teams, which had previously been effective against propeller-driven UAVs, now have virtually no time to engage them. In response to this situation, Ukraine has been forced to deploy medium-and long-range air defense missiles or intercepting fighter jets, placing tremendous strain on its already costly air defense weapon stockpile.
Cost issues and corresponding mitigation measures
Although jet engines offer high tactical effectiveness, their production cost is higher and their manufacturing process is more complex compared to piston engines. Consequently, the Russian military employs a combined strike tactic: deploying jet aircraft such as the "Gran-4" and "Gran-5" in conjunction with a large number of conventional propeller-driven "Gran-2" aircraft to weaken and break through enemy defenses.
In response to new challenges, Ukraine is driving domestic industry to develop specialized countermeasures. Currently, four Ukrainian companies are testing prototypes of high-speed interception drones, with the goal of achieving mass production to establish an economically efficient defense system capable of countering attacks by jet-powered drones.
