Ukrainian defense officials are on high alert as Russian forces are expected to introduce a new generation of combat drones, the “Geran-4,” capable of reaching speeds of up to 500 kilometers per hour. This development was announced by Serhiy (Flash) Beskrestnov, an advisor to Ukraine’s Minister of Defense, during a recent televised briefing.
Currently, Russian troops are utilizing the “Geran-3” drones, which can fly at speeds of 300 kilometers per hour. Ukrainian military forces have been successfully intercepting these drones, but the anticipated deployment of the faster “Geran-4” models poses a new challenge. Beskrestnov indicated that the enemy hopes these quicker drones will be harder to target.
Despite the looming threat, Beskrestnov reassured the public that Ukrainian forces are aware of Russia’s intentions. He stated that appropriate countermeasures are being implemented, including the development of specialized interceptors designed to combat these advanced drones.
Regarding the effectiveness of Ukraine’s current drone interception capabilities, Beskrestnov noted that Ukrainian interceptors are currently destroying approximately 50% of the Russian “Shahed” drones. This figure has significantly improved from just 10% earlier this winter.
Looking ahead, he expressed confidence that the rate of intercepted enemy drones will continue to rise. He further claimed that if interception rates reach 70-80%, the viability of using standard gasoline-powered “Shaheds” would become questionable for Russian military operations.
As Russia prepares to deploy faster "Geran-4" drones, Ukraine's defense forces are enhancing their interception strategies. Current efforts have led to a significant increase in the destruction of enemy drones, with expectations for continued improvement.
Source: РБК-Україна