Ukrainska Pravda examines Russia's shift from jet drones to small cruise missiles

Ukrainska Pravda argues that Russia is expanding from jet-powered attack drones into smaller cruise missiles, combining inexpensive commercial components with greater speed and manoeuvrability. Its analysis draws on public information and interviews with Ukrainian officials and weapons specialists.

Pavel Luzin, a researcher at the Center for European Policy Analysis and the Saratoga Foundation, described weapons built around model-aircraft engines that can be made in larger batches than engines for conventional cruise missiles.

The outlet reports that recent Geran-4 and Geran-5 batches use Chinese Telefly engines assembled at Alabuga. It says additional defect checks are needed because of component quality problems, and Ukrainian intelligence still assesses the weapons as dependent on foreign parts.

The analysis calls for several overlapping defences, including interceptor drones, guns, missiles and aircraft. It notes that 22 teams are developing interceptors for jet-powered Geran drones, but says their ability to stop faster small cruise missiles remains uncertain.