⚡ Jet-Powered Shaheds: Russia Flips the Drone Game in Ukraine

Jason Crowder
Aug 1
2 min read

By Fly Guy at The Prop Stop | August 1, 2025

Russia is reportedly rolling out a turbocharged upgrade to its Iranian-made Shahed drone

arsenal — now rebranded as Geran‑3 and powered by jet engines. Ukrainian sources confirm that in a recent nighttime strike, up to eight of these swifter-than-a-cruise-missile drones were used in coordinated attacks amid over 78 other Shahed drones launched that evening.

• What makes these new Shaheds different?

They’re modeled on Iran’s Shahed‑238, capable of speeds exceeding 500 km/h (about 310 mph)—that’s nearly three times faster than the propeller-driven Geran‑2 (~115 mph).
On radar, they mimic cruise missiles given their flight profiles—pushing Ukraine’s air defenses to their limits.

• Why this matters

Traditional air defenses—including interceptor drones and mobile fire units—find themselves playing catch-up. These jet Shaheds might just outrun today's countermeasures. Ukraine may have to lean heavily on high-end SAMs like Patriot systems—but using million-dollar missiles to shoot down relatively cheap drones simply isn’t sustainable.

• And yet… Ukrainian defenses aren't helpless

Experts emphasize there’s reason for cautious optimism. Jet engines create heat signatures, meaning MANPADS (like Stingers or Strela) and radar-guided anti-aircraft artillery (like Gepard systems) still reliably counter these threats. So—no need for drone pilots to start building DIY missile silos just yet.

✅ Takeaway from the high-flying frontlines

Russia’s deployment of jet-powered Shahed drones certainly marks a bold evolution in unmanned strike tech. These Geran‑3s move fast, climb high, and push Ukraine's tech race forward at warp speed.

But if Ukraine’s growing cadre of SAMs, MANPADS, smart interceptors, and evolving electronic warfare systems can adapt, it won’t be game over—just a new chapter. Now the ball’s back in Ukraine’s court, and that’s exactly where innovation can win the day.

🛸 Keep your props spinning, your batteries charged, and your drones filming—because as always, Fly Guy sees the big picture… from above, below, and everywhere in between.