Russia's Geran-5 has reached Kyiv and drawn Iranian interest. Its marquee capabilities are unproven, its range is contested and its output depends on one Chinese turbojet.
Ukraine's Bars strike drone is now more than 74% domestically made, and the one part it still buys abroad is the turbojet. A Ukrainian engine has passed final tests. The engine, not the airframe, is what caps output on both sides of the drone war.
Russia first outran Ukraine's cheap drone shield. Now it is blinding the operators, pushing the defense toward onboard guidance and digital links that erode the interceptor's defining cost advantage.
Russia flew 76 jet-powered Gerans at Ukraine in daylight on Aug. 18. Turbojet drones now reach two-thirds of some waves and roll off Alabuga at about 3,000 a month, faster than the $2,000 interceptors that beat the Shahed. Kyiv's jet-powered answer is still in combat testing.
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.