Ukraine nears mass production of drones to counter Russian jet-powered threats
Volunteer leader Serhii Sternenko states that new interceptors will be ready by the end of the year as Russia scales up its air attack capabilities.
By Amit Ricci ·
Ukraine is on track to begin mass production of electric interceptors by the end of 2026, Serhii Sternenko said. This move aims to counter the growing threat of Russian jet-powered Shahed drones. Sternenko, who leads the Sternenko Community foundation, stated that the country was not caught off guard by the new Russian weaponry.
The foundation has raised UAH 3.1 billion, or about US$68 million, in donations over the past year to supply defence forces with drones. Sternenko, a former adviser to Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, noted that Kyiv knew about Russian production in the second half of 2025. He explained that offensive weapons typically appear before defensive systems are ready.
Russia currently operates three types of jet-powered Shaheds. The Geran-3 is the slowest and can be stopped by conventional interceptors. The Geran-4 flies at 400 km/h or faster. The Geran-5 functions more like a missile than a drone. Sternenko identified the last two models as the primary challenges for Ukrainian air defence. He described the progress toward a mass-produced solution as very rapid for the end of the year.
Several interceptor types are in development, ranging from prototypes to small batches. Electric models are the most advanced but face speed limits. They are expected to reach 550 to 600 km/h and sustain that speed for only a few minutes. Turbojet interceptors are more promising but are more complex and expensive. A recent government decision to ease domestic turbojet engine production will not yield quick results.
For now, the focus is on mass-producing electric interceptors and small-scale output of jet-powered ones. This includes the Bars missile-drone adapted for interception. Sternenko linked these systems to recent statements about the reduced effectiveness of Starshield, the military version of Starlink, against jet-powered Shaheds. He envisions a future multirole platform: a large turbojet drone carrying machine guns, interceptors, and small surface-to-air missiles.
Sternenko said Ukraine still leads Russia in heavy multi-rotor bomber drones and tactical communications systems. Russia is ahead in fitting these into Geran-class drones and large attack UAVs. Russian mesh networks now extend 200 km or more. He called communications the foundation of air defence. If Elon Musk cut Starlink for Ukraine, Russian advances would become easier, though not a catastrophe. His foundation helped field a system on FPV drones this year to partially replace Starlink for medium-range strikes.
In January, after Russia began using Starlink on its Italmas drones, Fedorov gathered defence officials to find solutions. Once Starlink was disabled for the Russians, remotely guided Italmas attacks stopped. The drones could only follow pre-programmed coordinates, disrupting frontline command and control. This allowed Ukrainian counteroffensive operations with fewer losses, particularly on the Zaporizhzhia front. Sternenko warned that Russia is scaling up production of small cruise missiles, including Banderol-class missiles fired from Orion drones or helicopters. These can reach 600 to 700 km/h, where interceptors become less effective. Countering them requires homing seekers, which Ukraine is far from making at industrial scale.
