Russia's Jet-Powered Shahed Drones Challenge Ukraine's Air Defense

Russia has deployed jet-powered Shahed (Geran-3) drones in large-scale attacks against Ukraine, with the drones reaching speeds up to 600 km/h and altitudes of 9,000 m, complicating interception; in a July 30–31, 2025 attack 78 Shaheds were launched, 51 intercepted, and eight identified as jet-powered. The report highlights that the Geran-3 behaves like a cruise missile, driving interest in interceptor drones and novel countermeasures (drone walls, laser systems), while manufacturers face supply-chain constraints meeting rising global demand.