Russia's Jet-Powered Drones Mark A Deadly Evolution In Ukraine War

Immediately after Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, the air war over Ukraine followed expected lines, with both sides relying heavily on combat aircraft. These aircraft had two specific roles: to engage opposing aircraft directly and to strike targets in support of forces on the ground.

However, the situation soon changed. With air defense systems taking such a toll on aircraft from both sides, the air war over Ukraine became more stand-off in nature. More long-range tactics were employed instead.

From 2023, the Russians in particular came to make full use of the glide bomb. These bombs, fitted with stabilizing wings and navigation aids, could be launched around 70km away from their target, beyond the reach of most anti-aircraft defenses. They represented a less risky means of delivering ordnance to the battlefield.

However, drones swiftly became the dominant tool of air power. They have no crews to risk and, given their relative simplicity, can be produced at low cost in large numbers. Smaller drone variants have been used by both sides close to the frontlines, while larger, long-range drones have struck targets deeper inside Ukraine and Russia.

The issue with the earlier long-range drone variants was that they were relatively easy to shoot down. This is because, being propeller-driven, they are slow. For several years, the principal Russian long-range drones have been the propeller-driven Geran-1 and Geran-2 – upgraded Russian copies of the Iranian Shahed-136 drone.

The first jet-powered drone, the Geran-3, was deployed in 2025. It was significantly faster than the Geran-2, travelling at 330km/h compared with the Geran 2's 185km/h. While it had a considerably shorter range of just 600km, against the Geran-2's possible 2,500km, it could fly higher, reducing its vulnerability to air defences.

Later that year, the jet-powered Geran-4 appeared in the skies above Ukraine with an increased top speed of 500km/h and range of 850km. And in August 2026, the Geran-5, with its faster speed and even longer range, was first used operationally by Russian forces.

Ukraine's military intelligence service has published details of the components identified in the Geran-5 drone, highlighting the extent to which its supply chain draws on foreign technologies. These include a Chinese-supplied jet engine, digital processors made in the US and transistors manufactured in Germany.