Russia’s armed forces plan to increase the share of jet-powered combat drones in their attacks on Ukraine to up to 50 percent, Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief Colonel General Oleksandr Syrsky said, as reported by the Kyiv Post. He warned that this development creates new challenges for Ukraine’s air defense.
In May alone, Ukrainian air defense shot down more than 3,500 Russian drones, Syrsky said. Despite these successes, the rapid expansion of Russia’s drone arsenal is a concern. Particularly the new, faster Geran-4 models pose problems for defenders, as they can reach speeds of up to 500 kilometers per hour.
Ukraine is responding by expanding its defense systems, including ground-based interceptors and electronic countermeasures, according to Ukrainian officials. The goal is to maintain a high interception rate even against the faster jet-powered drones.
Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has been ongoing since February 2022. Both sides are increasingly using unmanned aerial vehicles, with Russia massively ramping up production and technological development.
Source: www.kyivpost.com
