Russia’s drones are getting faster and deadlier. The West is racing to catch up.
Russia is deploying faster, jet-powered drones like the Geran-5, prompting Western and Ukrainian defense firms to accelerate the development of advanced interceptor drones. This technological arms race is critical as current air defenses struggle to counter the increasing speed and frequency of these new threats.
Why it matters
The rapid evolution of drone warfare is fundamentally changing modern military strategy and defense procurement priorities globally.
Ukrainian and Western defense firms are making their interceptor drones faster. Ints Kalnins/REUTERS Russia is increasingly using deadly jet-powered drones to attack Ukrainian cities. US and European defense firms are rushing to develop new interceptor drones to counter the threat. Business Insider spoke with manufacturers about their push to build a new class of interceptors. The Russian weapon looks kind of like a cheap cruise missile. It has a thin fuselage, outstretched wings, and a mini turbojet engine that propels it across the sky. But Russia's Geran-5 isn't a missile. It's the newest and fastest weapon in a family of jet-powered drones that Moscow is using in rising numbers against Ukraine. The unrelenting attacks have intensified since the start of the summer, further straining Kyiv's already stretched air defenses.
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