Russia jet powered Geran 5 drone targets Ukraine air defense

The Russian Geran – 5 drones, which can reach missile speeds. as they move at 500 km/h, have turned into an absolute nightmare for Ukraine.

This is a performance that brings Ukrainian air defense to its knees, something that is admitted after all by the Ukrainian officials themselves, such as the spokesperson of the Ukrainian air force, Yuri Ihnat, who argued that valuable anti-aircraft missiles are required to intercept and shoot down these drones.

This development undoubtedly implies a huge change on the military front and in the evolution of the war because, when million-dollar missiles that are furthermore not available in large quantities are needed to intercept much cheaper drones that are launched en masse, then it is obvious who has the upper hand on the battlefield.

Interception drones cannot catch up

Russia is increasingly using unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) with jet engines in its attacks against Ukraine, as their high speed makes them inaccessible to Ukrainian interception drones.

According to the spokesperson of the Ukrainian Air Force, Yuri Ihnat, valuable anti-aircraft missiles are required to shoot them down.

Developing speeds of up to 500 km/h, these specific drones are faster than the Ukrainian interception drones.

These devices are no longer within the capabilities of interception drones, whose maximum speed reaches just 300 km/h.

This means that we can no longer rely on mobile fire groups and interception drones.

It is necessary to use missiles against such drones and this is exactly what the Air Force and other air defense units are doing now. underlined Ihnat, confirming the looming impasse.

Russia changes strategy

The enemy is constantly changing the tactics of using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), increasing their number and improving their capabilities.

The attacker intends to increase the percentage of attack drones with jet engines to 50%, stated at the beginning of June the Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Olexander Sirsky.

According to Sirsky, Moscow is making the task of the Ukrainian air defense increasingly difficult, so that it can respond effectively.

Until recently, the majority of Russian drones and other means of air attack were neutralized by Ukrainian interception systems.

However, after developing the production of Shahed type drones, known in Russia as Geran, Moscow focused on their further upgrade.

What are drones with jet engines?

In September 2025, the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine (GUR) published new data on the Geran-3, a faster and more sophisticated version of the Geran-2.

According to the GUR, unlike the propeller-driven Geran-2, the Geran-3 features a turbojet engine, which allows it to develop a speed of up to 370 km/h and have a flight range of up to 1,000 kilometers.

The drone carries an explosive charge and detonates upon impact, executing a vertical dive toward the target.

The Geran-5

Just a few months later, in January 2026, the GUR announced that Russian forces used a new attack drone, the Geran-5, against Ukraine for the first time.

According to the GUR, the Telefly jet engine produces greater thrust than that of the Geran-3 model.

The new drone has a length of approximately 6 meters and a wingspan of 5.5 meters.

Unlike the rest of the models in the Geran series, which are based on the Iranian Shahed drones, the Geran-5 is designed according to the classic aerodynamic layout.

Its remaining technical characteristics are similar to those of previous models.

Specifically, it uses a 12-channel Cometa satellite navigation system, as well as a tracking system based on Raspberry Pi microcomputers and 3G/4G modems, clarified the GUR.

90 kg warhead

The drone can carry a warhead weighing up to 90 kg and, according to available data, possesses a range of nearly 1,000 kilometers, a fact that allows it to strike any point in Ukraine.

According to the GUR, Russia was also examining the possibility of equipping attack aircraft, such as the Su-25, with Geran-5 drones, so as to increase their operational range.

Ukraine is forced to use valuable anti-aircraft missiles to intercept and shoot down these drones with jet engines, despite the limited stockpiles it possesses.

Nevertheless, the effectiveness of interception remains high and consistently exceeds 90%.

The characteristics of Geran-3 and Geran-5

The Geran-3 and Geran-5 drones constitute the latest evolution of the family of Russian single-use attack drones (loitering munitions), which are based on the Iranian Shahed-136 and Shahed-238.

Their main difference compared to the classic Shahed is the replacement of the piston engine with a turbojet engine, something that significantly increases the speed and makes their interception difficult.

The Geran-3 is essentially the Russian version of the Iranian Shahed-238.

Basic characteristics:

1) Engine: Turbojet Telefly JT80 (or equivalent)

2) Speed: approximately 370 km/h in operational use, while in tests even 600 km/h has been reported.

3) Range: approximately 1,000 km.

4) Warhead: 50–90 kg

5) Guidance: GPS/GLONASS, inertial navigation and a Kometa-M12 system resistant to electronic interference.

A special characteristic of it is that it does not fly continuously at maximum speed.

It accelerates mainly when entering areas with heavy anti-aircraft defense or during the final dive toward the target, so as to reduce the reaction time of the defenders.

The Geran-5 constitutes an even greater evolution.

In contrast to the previous Shahed, it features a normal aerodynamic layout and externally looks more like a small cruise missile or a small jet aircraft.

Basic characteristics:

1) length approximately 6 meters

2) wingspan 5.5 meters

3) warhead 90 kg

4) range approximately 1,000 km.

5) Telefly engine of greater thrust than that of the Geran-3

6) estimated speed 500–600 km/h.

Certain Ukrainian intelligence services argue that even the possibility of its transport by aircraft such as the Su-25 or its equipping with short-range air-to-air missiles is being examined, although these have not been independently confirmed.

Comparison with missiles

A comparison with the speed developed by missiles is indicative of the. capability of the Geran-5.

It is characteristic that the Russian cruise missile Kalibr has a speed of 800-900 km/h, the Russian cruise missile Kh-101 reaches 700 to 900 km/h while the American Tomahawk catches 880 km/h.

Obviously there can be no comparison with the ballistic missile Iskander M which moves at over 7,000 km/h or with the hypersonic Kinzhal which. reaches even 12,000 km/h.

Although the Geran-5 are much slower than a cruise missile, they have two important advantages:

1) they are much cheaper to produce,

2) they can be launched in large numbers simultaneously.

Thus they create saturation of the anti-aircraft defense.

Even if the majority of them is shot down, each interception may require a missile worth hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars, while the drone itself costs much less.

Are they missiles?

The Geran-5 nonetheless begins to blur the lines between the two categories, as:

1) it uses a turbojet engine,

2) it flies at speeds approaching those of a subsonic cruise missile,

3) it possesses a long range and a significant warhead,

4) it has an aerodynamic layout that reminds one more of a cruise missile than a classic Shahed.

That is why several western analysts now characterize it as a missile-drone, meaning a hybrid of a missile and a drone, as it combines characteristics of both categories.

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