Russia improves drone guidance and increases jet-powered attacks - Air Force

Not only is Russia sharply increasing the use of jet-powered drones against Ukraine, but it is also improving their equipment. Russian UAVs are being equipped with higher-resolution cameras and better-quality components, allowing for better recognition of objects on the ground. This was stated by the spokesman of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Yurii Ihnat, on the air of the telethon, Ukrinform reports.

According to Ihnat, one device can potentially combine the functions of a scout, an attack drone, and a repeater. Russian UAVs can also operate in mesh networks, transmitting information among themselves in a chain and thus maintaining communication with the operator over considerable distances. The Air Force confirms the enemy's use of such networks, although there is currently no information about the involvement of ground-based towers in Belarus for this purpose.

These changes occur simultaneously with Russia's sharp transition to the mass use of jet-powered Shaheds. As of September 29, the Russian army used 3,177 such UAVs this month, compared to 2,850 in August. Ihnat noted that Kyiv and the Kyiv region remain one of the main targets of these attacks lately.

Jet-powered drones are currently one of the most difficult challenges for Ukrainian air defense. On September 28, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that the overall neutralization rate of Russian drones is about 70%, while for jet-powered devices it is only 57%. Interception efficiency for regular Shaheds previously exceeded 90%. In mid-September, Zelenskyy called finding an effective means against jet-powered drones a top priority.

The reason is the significantly higher speed of such devices. Some cheap means that work well against regular Shaheds do not have time to intercept them. As a result, Ukraine has to involve ground-based anti-aircraft systems and combat aviation. The Air Force explicitly points to the need for additional missiles for air defense systems, but at the same time expects cheaper solutions from Ukrainian manufacturers that can be mass-produced.

Ukrainian jet interceptors are no longer just at the concept stage: some developments have successfully shot down jet-powered Shaheds during tests. However, there is no mass-produced ready-made solution yet. In early September, the President's Office reported that prototypes of high-speed interceptors have already been created, but are still being refined to the required level of effectiveness. Later, successful interceptions were recorded, after which the authorities stated the need to scale up production.

The cost-effectiveness of such a system is a separate issue. In some cases, Ukraine uses F-16s with air-to-air missiles to destroy jet-powered drones. Zelenskyy admitted that this is an expensive solution, so Ukraine is simultaneously working on cheap missiles and high-speed interceptor drones suitable for mass production.

Such air defense has to be scaled up against the background of increasingly strict budget constraints. On September 28, the government introduced a mechanism for prioritizing state expenditures after external financial assistance receipts fell substantially behind the plan in the first eight months of the year. In the event of a shortage of funds, the Treasury will primarily finance defense, debt payments, pensions, salaries, and social benefits.

The funding problem will persist next year as well. According to the Ministry of Finance's estimate, in 2027 Ukraine will need $52.6 billion in external financing, of which about $32.6 billion do not yet have confirmed sources. Defense remains the main budget priority, but the scaling up of new cheap air defense means is happening in conditions where the state is forced to allocate available financial resources especially strictly.

Based on: Ukrinform, Ukrinform, Ministry of Finance