Russia's New Missile Could Overshadow Shaheds Soon, Drone Gurus Warn

Key Points:

• Ukraine's drone experts warn that Russia is shifting focus from jet-powered Shahed drones to a new arsenal of cheap, advanced cruise missiles like the Filin, which have superior speed, maneuverability, and payload capacity.
• The Filin missile, recently unveiled by Ukraine's military intelligence, can fly nearly 500 mph, carry a 100kg warhead, and has a range of 745 miles, outperforming previous Russian drones such as the Geran-5.
• Unlike earlier drones, the Filin can be launched from helicopters and UAVs without needing drone ports, and is largely produced with Russian-made engines and components, though it still relies on some foreign electronics.
• Russia's use of commercial engines and components enables cost-effective mass production of cruise missiles like the Filin and the slower Banderol, which costs approximately $150,000 per unit, facilitating sustained "missile spam" tactics against Ukraine.
• Ukrainian experts urge their military to develop countermeasures against this emerging missile threat to prevent further strain on air defense systems.