Recent reports indicate that Russia may increase its deployment of upgraded versions of the Shahed drones, known in Russia as Geran, in response to the effectiveness of Ukrainian interceptor drones.
The modified drones are based on the Iranian Shahed-136 design, featuring enhanced speed and capabilities that could complicate Ukrainian air defense efforts, according to Forbes.
These improvements include advanced satellite navigation protection systems, limited remote control for the final flight phase, and artificial intelligence components for trajectory correction.
However, the effectiveness of these drones has diminished since Ukraine began extensively utilizing interceptor drones. These smaller UAVs can reach speeds of up to 300 km/h and employ AI algorithms for automatic targeting, achieving a reported interception success rate exceeding 60%.
Experts suggest that Russia has three potential strategies to counter these interceptors: evasive maneuvers, flying at very low altitudes, and increasing speed, with the latter being the most practical enhancement.
In 2025, Russia began using a copy of the Iranian jet drone named Geran-3, which, according to Ukrainian intelligence, is equipped with a Chinese-made turbojet engine from Telefly and can exceed speeds of 500 km/h.
In early 2026, Russia attempted to attack Ukraine with the Geran-5 drone, which boasts significantly improved specifications, including a wingspan of approximately 5.5 meters, a payload capacity of up to 90 kg, and a flight range of around 1,000 km at speeds reaching 600 km/h.
Despite these advancements, the use of jet engines complicates production and increases costs, potentially limiting mass deployment. Concurrently, Ukraine is preparing countermeasures by developing new high-speed interceptor drones.
On a strategic level, Ukraine is also targeting production and supply chains associated with these drones. As part of its expanded campaign of deep strikes, Ukrainian forces have conducted long-range attacks on facilities involved in the assembly of Geran drones.
Russia is reportedly enhancing its drone capabilities to counter Ukrainian interceptors by deploying upgraded versions of Iranian-designed UAVs. These modifications aim to improve speed and effectiveness, although Ukraine is simultaneously developing countermeasures to address these advancements.
Source: Forbes