powered drones. Kyiv has already shown it can shoot them down, but doing it at scale could cost billions. — Meduza

Key Points:

• Russian President Vladimir Putin claims Ukraine requested an “air ceasefire” due to vulnerability against Russia’s new jet-powered “Geran” drones, which Kyiv currently lacks effective defenses against, though these drones are costlier than earlier models.
• Russia’s new generation of jet-powered drones, including the “Geran-4” and “Geran-5,” are faster and harder to intercept than previous piston-engine drones, but significantly more expensive to produce, costing over $100,000 each.
• Ukraine has developed jet-powered interceptor drones capable of countering the new Russian drones, but these interceptors are costly and require multiple units per target, potentially adding hundreds of millions to billions of dollars annually to Ukraine’s defense budget.
• The technological arms race in drone warfare is straining both countries’ finances, with Ukraine facing a substantial military budget shortfall amid increased spending on air-defense and strike capabilities, relying heavily on Western aid to fill the gap.
• Russia’s ability to mass-produce jet-powered drones within a year of program launch contrasts with slower development efforts by other countries, marking a significant advancement in its military drone capabilities despite reliance on costly Chinese components.