Three Russian drones shot down over Lviv region

During the last two air raid alerts, air defense forces destroyed three Russian drones over Lviv region. This was reported by the head of the Lviv Regional Military Administration, Maksym Kozytskyi.

Two drones were shot down in Lviv district, and another one in Stryi district.

According to preliminary information, there were no casualties.

How jet-powered "Shaheds" differ from conventional ones

As reported by BBC, unlike traditional "Shaheds," which are equipped with piston engines and reach speeds of about 150–200 km/h, jet-powered counterparts have turbojet engines. Thanks to this, they fly several times faster and have a better chance of overcoming Ukraine's air defense lines.

Russia uses several modifications of such drones: "Geran-3," "Geran-4," and "Geran-5." The first two outwardly resemble conventional "Shaheds," while the "Geran-5" looks like a cruise missile.

The "Geran-5" can be launched from an aircraft and reaches speeds of up to 600 km/h. This missile-drone is 6 m long and 5.5 m wide. Its warhead weighs up to 90 kg.

This version is so far the least used for strikes on Ukraine. Russians prefer to use the jet-powered "Geran-3" and "Geran-4," which have a warhead of about 50 kg.

Depending on the modification, the speed of the drones can reach 350, 500, and even 600 km/h. At the same time, they are more expensive than conventional attack drones and have limitations in range and maneuverability.

Why they are harder to shoot down

High speed shortens the time in which Ukrainian forces can detect and hit a target. In addition, jet-powered drones are able to fly at altitudes of up to 9 km, which complicates the work of some interception assets.

Some modifications are equipped with automatic target recognition systems and cameras. This allows the operator to lock onto a target, after which the drone can track it and attack in automatic mode.

Such drones are used to strike energy and transport infrastructure, warehouses, industrial facilities, and moving targets, including ships and locomotives.

How Ukraine counters jet-powered drones

To intercept jet-powered "Shaheds," Ukraine uses anti-aircraft missile systems, aviation, mobile fire groups, and interceptor drones. However, the latter were originally developed to fight slower drones, so their effectiveness against jet models is lower.

Ukrainian manufacturers and the military are developing new interception means that are meant to be faster, fly higher, and automatically track aerial targets.

Russia, in turn, is increasing production of jet-powered drones and plans to raise their share among attack drones. This creates additional challenges for Ukraine's air defense.