Air Defence Forces shoot down new jet-powered “Geran-4” drone
Ukraine’s air defence forces have successfully intercepted Russia’s latest unmanned system — the jet-powered Geran-4drone, reportedly equipped with its own air-to-air missile.
According to the 413th “Raid” Regiment of the Unmanned Systems Forces, the Geran-4 is an evolutionary development of the earlier jet-powered Geran-3. Its key improvements include a significant increase in speed — up to 500 km/h — and an extended operational range of approximately 850 kilometres, making it a far more challenging target for mobile air defence units than propeller-driven drones.
Specialists note that the Geran-4 features optimised aerodynamic contours and an engine reportedly twice as powerful as those used in previous variants. Its estimated take-off weight is around 450 kilograms. The appearance of missile armament onboard the drone may indicate Russia’s attempt to develop a low-cost platform capable of hunting Ukrainian reconnaissance drones or even helicopters.
At the same time, analysts from the “Colonel of the General Staff” channel suggest that the system could in fact be a modified Geran-2, in which the standard warhead has been replaced with a missile launcher — a theory supported by the altered shape of the drone’s nose section.
Despite confirmed instances of use, Ukrainian military officials stress that jet-powered drones of this type are currently being deployed in limited numbers and remain in a combat testing phase. Large-scale production and widespread use of such “missile-drones” as a cheaper alternative to cruise missiles is not expected before winter 2026–2027.
Ukraine is already preparing an asymmetric response, advancing its own jet-powered drone projects — “Palianytsia” and “Bars” — aimed at regaining the initiative in this high-tech segment of the war.
Earlier, Ukraine’s air defence forces reported shooting down all ten out of ten Russian jet-powered drones that attacked Kyiv and the surrounding region during the day on 14 January 2026.
In a separate incident, an enemy drone struck a petrol station in Sumy, injuring civilians.
Meanwhile, along the Kovel–Kyiv railway line, a new threat has been recorded: some kamikaze drones may be dropping magnetic mines directly onto the ground.
