Russia is flying 8x more jet drones at Ukraine, and the engines are Chinese
Russia has launched roughly 1,400 jet-powered Geran drones at Ukraine this year, fast enough to slip past the cheap interceptors Kyiv built its air defense around.
Russia has launched roughly 1,400 jet-powered Geran drones at Ukraine this year, fast enough to slip past the cheap interceptors Kyiv built its air defense around.
Russia has fired about 1,400 jet-powered strike drones at Ukraine since January, nearly eight times the 180 logged in all of 2025, Militarnyi reported, citing a briefing by Colonel Oleksandr Zaruba of Ukraine's state weapons-testing institute.
Three variants are in play, all rebranded Iranian designs now partly built at the Alabuga plant in Tatarstan. The Geran-3, a jet successor to the propeller Shahed-136, cruises at 350 to 550 km/h and reaches up to 1,500 km. Its stablemate the Geran-4 reached combat in May carrying a 50 kg warhead, while the larger Geran-5 stretches 6.5 meters and runs a TeleFly TF-Tj2000a turbojet, the Defence Blog reported.
Speed is the weapon. A jet Geran crosses the same ground far faster than a Shahed-136, collapsing the seconds Ukraine's truck-mounted mobile fire groups need to get a radar cue, swing a gun, and fire. For some interceptor drones, the jets now sit above the speed they can catch, Militarnyi said.
The propulsion is Chinese. Ukrainian intelligence has traced Chinese-made TeleFly turbojets in the Geran-3 and Geran-5, with parts from the UK, US, Germany, and Japan also found in the Geran-4, National Security Journal reported.
That threatens Ukraine's cheapest win. Kyiv answered slow Shaheds with the roughly $2,500 Sting interceptor drone, and Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said the share of Shaheds downed by interceptors doubled over four months. The jet Gerans are engineered to outrun that drone.
Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said Russia wants jet models to reach 50% of its strike drones. At the current launch rate, volume gets there on its own.
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Subscribe Free →Each Ukrainian fix has pulled a Russian counter behind it. The 1,400 jet launches now set the speed the next interceptor has to beat, and that drone will not cost $2,500.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many jet-powered drones has Russia launched at Ukraine in 2026?
About 1,400 since January, nearly eight times the 180 recorded in all of 2025, Militarnyi reported, citing a briefing by Colonel Oleksandr Zaruba of Ukraine's state weapons-testing institute.
What are the Geran-3, Geran-4, and Geran-5?
They are Russia's jet-powered strike drones, rebranded and partly domestic versions of Iranian designs. The Geran-3 cruises at 350 to 550 km/h with a range up to 1,500 km; the Geran-4 carries a 50 kg warhead; the Geran-5 runs a TeleFly TF-Tj2000a turbojet, per Militarnyi and the Defence Blog.
Why are jet drones harder to shoot down?
Their higher speed collapses the time Ukraine's mobile fire groups have to detect, aim, and fire, and pushes some interceptor drones above the speed at which they can reliably catch a target, Militarnyi reported.
Where do the engines come from?
Ukrainian intelligence has identified Chinese-made TeleFly turbojet engines in the Geran-3 and Geran-5, with components from the UK, US, Germany, and Japan also found in the Geran-4, National Security Journal reported.
How has Ukraine been defending against Russian drones?
Kyiv fielded the roughly $2,500 Sting interceptor drone against slower Shaheds, and Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said the share of Shaheds downed by interceptors doubled over four months. The faster jet Gerans are built to outrun that defense.
AI-generated summary, reviewed by an editor. More on our AI guidelines.
Marcus Schuler
Marcus Schuler edits BattlePolicy, a daily defense-technology brief connecting the companies and capabilities behind modern war to the contest among Europe, the US, Russia, and China.