Russia doubles jet-powered drone production: Ukraine realises new data
Photo: Serhii "Flash" Beskrestnov (telegram/Serhiy Beskrestnov)
Russia continues to ramp up production of attack unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), betting on faster targets. The Ukrainian side has recorded a significant increase in the number of jet-powered UAVs and expects further development in this area, according to Ukrinform.
According to Serhii "Flash" Beskrestnov, an external advisor to the President of Ukraine on the development of technological defense directions, Russia has already approached its planned production volumes for jet-powered drones.
"Last month, according to our statistics, there were 1,500 attacks by jet-powered UAVs. This month, we have already counted 3,000 jet-powered drones," Beskrestnov said.
He noted that, according to Ukrainian intelligence, Russia plans to produce 36,000–40,000 drones per year. This corresponds to more than 3,000 UAVs per month.
"That is - over three thousand per month. It can be said that they have already reached this capacity," the advisor stated.
Enemy focuses specifically on jet-powered drones
Beskrestnov stated that the Russia will continue to simultaneously produce jet-powered and conventional gasoline-powered drones. According to his forecast, about 60% of production will account for jet-powered apparatus, while the rest will be conventional drones like the Shahed-136 / Geran-2.
According to the advisor, Russia will increasingly use jet-powered UAVs for attacks on non-frontline regions. He cited the active use by Ukrainian military forces of interceptors against slower targets as one of the reasons.
At the same time, according to Beskrestnov, Russia is working on further increasing the speed of its attack drones.
"Russian units understand that we will build jet-powered interceptors. It is only a matter of time," he said.
Russia prepares new strike weapons
In parallel, Russia is working on other high-speed means of strike. In particular, Beskrestnov spoke about the Banderol, which he called a cheap jet-powered cruise missile.
According to him, the production forecast for Banderol drones anticipates up to 1,000 units per month.
"Furthermore, they will produce a similar strike jet-powered missile named Dan-T, Dan-M, as well as Geran-5," the advisor added.
He clarified that new Russian strike weapons may have a speed of about 500–650 km/h. Also, according to him, they can fly at very low altitudes and maneuver actively.
Such characteristics, in Beskrestnov’s assessment, could complicate the work of Ukrainian air defense.
Context of Zelenskyy’s advisor’s statement
In recent days, Russian units have been using a new tactic of exhausting Ukrainians - constantly launching jet-powered drones in small batches, causing air raid alerts in Kyiv and other cities and disrupting the operations of enterprises and businesses.
The main pressure is being exerted specifically on Kyiv. Because of this, Ukrainian authorities are considering options to prevent alerts from interrupting the work of all institutions in Kyiv. It is proposed to divide alert types into yellow and red.
Deputies are also adapting to new conditions. The Verkhovna Rada is preparing a new format of work during alerts and voting via QR codes.
Against this background, Kyiv authorities have proposed allowing the operation of the green branch of the metro without restrictions, as well as adjusting curfew rules.
