Will Russia’s Gamble On Jet-Powered Drones Pay Off?

BusinessAerospace & DefenseWill Russia’s Gamble On Jet-Powered Drones Pay Off?ByDavid Hambling,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. I'm a South London-based technology journalist, consultant and authorFollow AuthorAug 21, 2026, 03:59am EDTSummaryRussia is significantly escalating its drone campaign against Ukraine, transitioning from slow, propeller-driven Geran-2s to faster, jet-powered models like the Geran-3 and Geran-4. This strategic shift follows Ukraine's success in intercepting nearly 90% of the slower drones. The new Geran-4, capable of cruising over 200 mph and sprinting past 300 mph, poses substantial defensive challenges, drastically reducing reaction time for ground units. While more expensive and with a shorter range, its speed aims to overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses. In response, Ukraine is developing its own jet-powered interceptors, signaling a continuous escalation in this strategic drone warfare. Russia's evolving strategy prioritizes high-performance drones to pressure missile defense systems.Show More Remains of a downed Geran-4 drone showing the Chinese-made jet engine at rear Ukraine's Defense IntelligenceRussia has carried out its strategic air campaign against Ukraine with traditional ballistic and cruise missiles and increasing numbers of small, low-cost attack drones. Now the drones are changing, with fewer of the propeller-driven types and more fast jet-powered drones. Why are Ukrainian defenders worried and how could jet drones change the strategic balance?The Russian For Shahed Is “Geran”In 2022 Russia started importing Ukrainian Shahed-131 and Shahed-136 drones. These were literally rebranded, and known in Russia as Geran-1 and Geran-2. The smaller Geran-1 has not featured much, but in 2023 Russia built a giant new facility in Alabuga, east of Moscow, to churn out Geran-2s under licensePresident Zelensky with a downed Shahed-136/Geran-2 droneOffice of the Pres...