Moscow is accelerating the rise of drones that are faster and more difficult to intercept, at the very moment when Ukrainian defenses had adapted to the profile of the Geran 2. This paradigm shift constitutes a new structural threat for Ukrainian anti-drone systems.
On the night of May 14, 2026, more than 400 Russian drones descended on Ukraine – including, for the first time in significant numbers, jet-powered devices. Behind this wave, an industrial breakthrough: Moscow officially launched mass production of its Geran 4 and Geran 5, according to Ukrainian military intelligence (GUR). This assessment, published on May 19, 2026, reveals a capacity of up to 500 jet drones per month, with the stated objective of bringing jet aircraft to 50% of the committed fleet, reports the specialist site MetaDefense.Â
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Drones too fast for current defenses
While Ukrainian anti-drone systems were gradually calibrated to the speed, altitude and trajectories of the Geran 2 – equivalent to the Iranian Shahed 136 –, Moscow is now banking on jet-powered variants. Serial production of the Geran 4 and Geran 5 is launched, and tests are conducted directly in Ukraine in real operational conditions.
Ukrainian military intelligence emphasizes that the greater speed of these machines allows them to cross the first echelons of defense. Interceptor drones would have difficulty following targets moving at high speed, and neutralization by small arms or anti-aircraft guns becomes random.
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These variants also include a control module allowing route modification in real time; redundant systems ensure the continuation of the mission in the event of a link failure, thus reducing the effectiveness of electronic countermeasures based on jamming.
The Geran 5, an almost intercontinental range
The Geran 5 was formally identified on January 11, 2026 after analysis of debris recovered in Ukraine by the GUR. According to technical data published by GUR on January 11, 2026, the Geran 5 would reach speeds of between 450 and 600 km/h, with an operational radius close to 950 kilometers and a payload of around 90 kilograms. The drone is powered by a Chinese Telefly TF-TJ2000A turbojet developing 1,960 newtons of thrust, and integrates components of Chinese, American and German origin.
The move to jet drones involves a higher cost and longer manufacturing times than for the Geran 2, whose main advantage lay in its very low cost and high throughput. In April 2026, Russia had already launched a record 6,583 long-range drones against Ukraine, an increase of 2% compared to March, according to AFP citing reports from the Ukrainian Air Force. If the monthly rate of jet aircraft continues, the available volumes could, in a few months, locally weigh on defenses in numbers.
/2026/05/20/6a0d719f8231f306407210.jpg "Defense budget, appointment of Emmanuel Moulin… Les Informés in the morning of Wednesday May 20, 2026")
