In an Oct. 27 statement, Ukraine’s General Staff said its defenses downed nearly 60% of Russian Geran-4 drones on average over three months, while stressing the need to bolster short-range air defenses amid a missile shortage.
The average applied to Geran-4 drones, while the military said the rate for jet-powered drones could reach 80% during individual attacks. It credited tactical aircraft, including F-16, Mirage and MiG-29 jets, with helping counter jet-powered drones.
The General Staff said strengthening short-range defenses is important because surface-to-air guided missiles are in short supply. It listed Gepard and Shilka anti-aircraft systems, Skynex, Skyranger and Terrahawk Paladin, as well as interceptor drones and mobile fire groups.
The military is testing interceptor models intended to lower the cost of countering the drones. Some designs under evaluation have already destroyed several dozen Russian jet-powered Geran drones, it said.
Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence said Oct. 5 that Russia had started using a new Geran-4 variant that autumn. It described changes to the drone’s navigation systems and a Russian-made engine replacing a Chinese Telefly engine.
