Russia deploys jet-powered Shahed drones in Ukraine, production reaches 3,000 monthly
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Russia has begun using jet-powered Shahed drones, including the Geran-4, in attacks on Ukraine. Ukrainian military reports a fivefold increase in jet-powered drone usage in July. The drones are domestically produced at a rate of nearly 3,000 per month.
Key Facts
- Russia produces nearly 3,000 Geran-4 and Geran-5 jet-powered drones monthly, according to Ukrainian military news site Militarniy.
- Ukrainian military reported a fivefold increase in jet-powered drone usage in July.
- Three jet-powered drone versions are known: Geran-3, Geran-4, and Geran-5.
- The number of Shahed drones launched in Russian air attacks fell by at least half over the past two months.
Jet-Powered Drone Threat
A video posted by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's adviser on defense technology shows a black drone striking a locomotive, forcing passengers to flee. The drone is believed to be a Shahed Seeker, also known as Geran-4, a jet-powered modification of the Iranian-origin Shahed. Danylo Shenhelskiy, a military liaison manager on a counter-drone project, called the jet-powered drones 'a major problem'. In some areas, jet-powered Shaheds make up the majority of drones being used, according to Shenhelskiy.
Production and Variants
Russia domestically produces Shahed drones in large numbers, with three jet-powered versions known to the public: Geran-3, Geran-4, and Geran-5. The Geran-3 is largely the same as previous Shahed prototypes but modified with a jet engine, and has been intercepted multiple times by Ukrainian forces. Later versions, Geran-4 and Geran-5, have more significant upgrades providing a considerable speed advantage. According to Militarniy, Russia produces nearly 3,000 of the latest two models every month.
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Russia deploys jet-powered Shahed drones in Ukraine, production reaches 3,000 monthly
