A senior representative of the Ukrainian government has disclosed that Kyiv’s armed forces are not only aware of, but already actively equipped with, specialized interceptor drones designed to neutralize Russia’s newly introduced jet-powered Shahed aircraft. These unmanned aerial systems, which Moscow has recently begun deploying, represent a serious escalation because their much higher velocity elevates the danger they pose and threatens to overwhelm existing layers of defense. The Ukrainian official emphasized that although Russia is continuously refining its offensive drone technology, Ukraine is simultaneously advancing innovatively on the defensive front, refusing to remain stagnant in the technological contest.
Speaking in a televised interview released on Monday by the local media outlet *Noviny Live*, Pavlo Palisa, who serves as the deputy head of Ukraine’s presidential office, clarified that Ukraine has already developed interceptor platforms capable of engaging Shahed drones powered by jet engines. His remarks conveyed a deliberate message: while adversary forces may seek to enhance their arsenal with faster and more dangerous machines, Ukrainian specialists are proactively meeting that challenge through the innovation and rapid deployment of advanced drones of their own.
Palisa went on to explain in greater detail how Ukraine’s defense sector is investing effort and resources in expanding its fleet of first-person-view (FPV) drones. These lightweight, pilot-guided devices can be employed as an integral part of a broader air defense structure, designed to create an optimal protective shield across multiple ranges and altitudes. According to his statement, Russia has already experimented with drones built around jet propulsion, while Ukraine has responded through its own FPV developments that are shaped specifically to counter these innovations.
Although the deputy head refrained from disclosing the exact specifications or technical features of Ukraine’s newly developed interceptors, his comments imply that Kyiv is accelerating efforts to build a credible response to Moscow’s next generation of long-range strike capabilities. Russia’s newest drone, widely recognized under the designation Geran-3, is believed to be an indigenized version of the Iranian Shahed-238 loitering munition. Unlike its predecessor, the Geran-2 — which is itself modeled on the propeller-driven Shahed-136 — the Geran-3 relies on a compact turbojet engine. This modification dramatically enhances its speed, doubling the pace of flight compared with the older model and thereby raising the stakes for Ukrainian air defense units.
Visual evidence of Iran-manufactured Shahed drones already in circulation was recently displayed in Kyiv during an international conference focused on tightening sanctions against Russia. These damaged airframes served as a stark demonstration of how regularly Russia integrates such drones into mass waves of aerial bombardment against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure. The comparison between earlier and newer models highlights the escalating challenge: while the Geran-2 can achieve speeds of roughly 115 miles per hour and travel distances of around 620 miles, the upgraded Geran-3 is understood to reach speeds in the vicinity of 230 miles per hour, with at least equivalent range. Such performance not only shortens the reaction time available to defenders but also complicates interception strategies dramatically.
For Ukraine, which already struggles to counter volleys of Geran-2 drones—often launched in concert with deceptive decoys designed to confuse and deplete its air defenses—the emergence of an even faster target presents an acute tactical dilemma. It is precisely for this reason that Kyiv is racing to expand the manufacture of its interceptor FPVs. These drones, being relatively inexpensive yet highly agile, operate by accelerating rapidly enough to catch up with hostile UAVs before detonating a small onboard charge upon collision. When deployed in sufficient numbers, they can fill critical gaps within Ukraine’s layered defensive shield, freeing up more sophisticated and scarce air-defense systems, such as surface-to-air missiles, to confront more lethal threats like ballistic armaments.
The significance of developing large-scale production capability for interceptor drones is heightened by the fact that Russia has recently begun flying its Shahed units at higher altitudes to evade Ukrainian small-arms fire from ground-based crews. With jet-powered UAVs now complicating interception even further, Ukrainian engineers must design FPV variants capable of not only greater climbing ability but also substantially increased speed — potentially twice that of the earlier drones — while still maintaining affordability. Affordability is key: only a cost-effective defense allows Kyiv to fend off mass attacks without exhausting limited resources.
Although Russia has not yet deployed the Geran-3 in overwhelming numbers, the drone has begun appearing in Ukrainian defense reports with growing frequency since the start of the year. Analysts remain uncertain whether these sightings represent experimental prototypes field-tested in combat conditions or the beginning of mass deployment. Nonetheless, the trend illustrates Moscow’s deliberate intensification of long-range unmanned strike technology.
On Tuesday, Ukrainian military intelligence reinforced this assessment by publishing new technical data about the Geran-3. The report revealed that the drone is equipped with an advanced satellite navigation system that makes it resistant to standard radio-frequency interference techniques — specifically, those forms of electronic warfare that Ukraine has frequently used to jam earlier models. Perhaps more concerning, the same report identified that dozens of the drone’s components originate from foreign suppliers, underscoring both the global supply-chain complexity and the difficulty of choking off Russia’s access to precision parts.
The increasingly visible use of Geran-3 drones signals a strategic shift by Russia toward investing heavily in aerial strike capacity that can reach deep into Ukrainian territory. This expansion represents not simply an incremental technological upgrade but the potential for a transformed battlespace in which the skies become the dominant arena of confrontation. For Ukraine, the accelerated development of innovative FPV interceptors and complementary defense systems will remain essential if it hopes to keep pace with Russia’s escalating aerial aggression.
Sourse: https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-already-has-interceptors-shahed-238-geran-3-official-2025-9
