Russia's Jet-Powered Drones Test Ukraine's Low-Cost Interceptor Defenses

Russia's deployment of jet-powered drones, including the Shahed, is forcing Ukraine to innovate its air defense capabilities. According to Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson Colonel Yurii Ihnat, jet-powered drones now make up as much as two-thirds of some Russian attack waves. Ukraine's Defence Intelligence (DIU) has published a technical breakdown of the Geran-4, a Russian jet-powered drone developed to counter Ukrainian interceptor drones. The Geran-4 features a new airframe powered by a Chinese Telefly turbojet, operating at speeds of between 300 and 400 kilometers per hour. However, its range of around 450 kilometers falls short of that of the propeller-driven Geran-2. ## Different Ways to Counter an Interceptor Ukraine's military and manufacturers are exploring various ways to counter the Geran-4 and other jet-powered drones. One approach is to outmaneuver the drone, as seen in footage released by Ukrainian radio specialist Serhii Beskrestnov, who publishes under the name 'Flash'. The footage shows an interceptor's video feed cutting out as it closed in on a Shahed, with Beskrestnov attributing the interruption to an onboard jammer designed to disrupt the interceptor's video downlink. However, Beskrestnov notes that this technique carries a cost for Russia, as any drone that transmits can potentially be detected and located through its own emissions. He also cautions that the explanation for the observed effects remains his expert interpretation, rather than a physically confirmed finding. ## Interceptors Get Faster and Smarter Ukraine's most direct response to the Geran-4 is raw speed. Former Ukrainian defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov has announced that an unnamed Ukrainian manufacturer is conducting combat trials of a jet-powered interceptor drone, which can exceed 600 kilometers per hour. This gives it a substantial speed advantage over the Geran-4. Several Ukrainian manufacturers are developing systems intended to counter jet-powered drones, with some focusing on making the interceptor less dependent on its operator. SkyFall, a company that builds the P1-SUN, has unveiled a faster derivative called JetKiller, which can reach speeds of up to 370 kilometers per hour. JetKiller can also be fitted with an artificial intelligence module that automatically detects, tracks, and locks on to targets, reducing its dependence on an uninterrupted video link to the operator. The development of faster and more advanced interceptors is a critical aspect of Ukraine's air defense strategy, as it seeks to counter the increasing threat posed by Russia's jet-powered drones. As the situation continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how Ukraine's military and manufacturers will adapt to the changing landscape of air warfare.