US’ top rival’s jet drone that can strike beyond 500 miles intercepted using Western air defense

Ukraine has intercepted a Russian jet-powered Geran-5 attack drone in the Kyiv region using Sweden’s RBS-70 air defense system for the first time, according to Ukraine’s military. The interception highlights Kyiv’s efforts to counter faster Russian drones that are more difficult to engage than conventional propeller-driven attack UAVs. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine announced on November 13 that personnel from the 1027th Anti-Aircraft Missile and Artillery Regiment had destroyed the Geran-5 using the Swedish-made system. It did not disclose the precise location or time of the engagement. The regiment’s RBS-70 crew had described the interception in an earlier interview with Ukrainian outlet LB.ua, published on November 11. A commander identified by the callsign Vigo said the drone was traveling at more than 500 km/h (310 mph) and descended toward its target only a few minutes before impact, leaving air defense crews limited time to respond. Why the Geran-5 is harder to intercept Unlike the propeller-driven Geran-2 drones commonly associated with Russia’s Shahed-style attacks, the Geran-5 uses a turbojet engine and a conventional aircraft configuration. Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence Directorate (HUR) says the drone resembles Iran’s Karrar and incorporates components also found in other Russian Geran models. According to HUR’s January 2026 technical assessment, the Geran-5 has a maximum takeoff weight of approximately 850 kg (1,874 lb), a cruising speed of 450–600 km/h (280–373 mph), and an estimated range of up to 950 km (590 miles). These figures are Ukrainian intelligence estimates rather than independently verified performance measurements. Its higher speed reduces the time available for air defense crews to detect, identify, and engage it. That makes systems capable of tracking faster aerial targets increasingly important to Ukraine’s layered air defenses. How Sweden’s RBS-70 guided missile works The RBS-70, developed by Swedish defense company Saab, differs from many shoulder-fired air defense missiles that use infrared seekers to home in on an aircraft’s heat signature. Instead, it uses laser beam-riding guidance. The operator keeps the target within the system’s sight, while the missile follows a laser guidance corridor projected toward it. Because the missile does not rely on an infrared seeker, conventional heat-decoy flares are not an effective way to divert it. The system is also less vulnerable to certain forms of electronic jamming that can interfere with radar-guided weapons. However, its guidance method requires the operator to maintain a line of sight and track the target during the engagement. Depending on the missile variant, the RBS-70 family offers an engagement range of several kilometers. Saab’s newer RBS-70 NG configuration advertises a range exceeding 9 km (5.6 miles) and altitude coverage of up to 5 km (3.1 miles). Sweden continues to support Ukraine’s air defenses Sweden has supplied Ukraine with RBS-70 systems as part of its military assistance. In February 2025, the Swedish government announced a SEK 1.2 billion ($113 million at the time) air-defense package that included procurement of the latest RBS-70 version and Tridon Mk2 anti-aircraft systems for Ukraine. The Geran-5 interception is not the first reported Ukrainian success against the jet-powered drone. In September 2026, Ukraine’s 1020th Anti-Aircraft Missile and Artillery Regiment released footage of a Ukrainian-made STING interceptor drone destroying one. Ukraine has also been exploring other relatively affordable ways to counter faster aerial threats, including interceptor drones and automated machine-gun systems. The latest RBS-70 engagement demonstrates how established short-range missile systems can also contribute to that effort as Russia expands its use of jet-powered attack drones.Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.Kaif Shaikh is a journalist and writer passionate about turning complex information into clear, impactful stories. His writing covers technology, sustainability, geopolitics, and occasionally fiction. A graduate in Journalism and Mass Communication, his work has appeared in the Times of India and beyond. After a near-fatal experience, Kaif began seeing both stories and silences differently. Outside work, he juggles far too many projects and passions, but always makes time to read, reflect, and hold onto the thread of wonder.