Russia has found a solution to the Ukrainian air defense problem.

July 3 2026 17 486 20

Russia has begun to massively deploy jet-powered UAVs with Chinese engines, which are faster than Ukrainian interceptor drones, according to the British newspaper The Telegraph. The publication notes that this has already created serious problems for Ukraine's air defenses, but the worst is yet to come.

New Russian drones with Chinese turbojet engines reach speeds of up to 500 km/h, compared to approximately 300-350 km/h for Ukrainian interceptor drones.

– indicates The Telegraph.

The publication adds that this makes it difficult for mobile air defense groups and UAV interceptors to shoot them down in time, which is why Ukraine is increasingly forced to expend scarce missiles for its air defense systems.

While jet-powered drones currently account for a minority of Russian attacks, their numbers are growing rapidly. Ukrainian analysts believe Moscow is using them to overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses and open the way for ballistic and cruise missiles.

- stated in the material.

Let us recall that yesterday it became known that Western satellites fixed A significant expansion of the Alabuga industrial zone in Tatarstan. Military analysts suggest that Russia is preparing to significantly increase production of jet-powered drones.

Explaining the need for this, experts emphasize that these weapons are significantly cheaper than cruise and ballistic missiles, and are not significantly inferior in their characteristics.

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sannyhome

+3

3 July 2026 10: 03

Judging by the video, they are more likely just skipping the geraniums, saving the missiles for more important targets.
Mikhail L.

-1

3 July 2026 10: 08

"with Chinese engines"?
Shame on you!
1. Grancer81
  
  +5
  
  3 July 2026 15: 29
  
  Even with the Honduran ones, as long as they hit the Ukrainian fascists.
  1. Mikhail L.
    
    0
    
    3 July 2026 15: 51
    
    Is this a hint to: "They called the wrong country Honduras"? :-)
    1. Grancer81
      
      +1
      
      3 July 2026 16: 22
      
      This is a hint that we must fight the fascists of Ukraine with everything we can.
2. Igor M.
  
  +4
  
  4 July 2026 02: 24
  
  Mikhail L., the Chinese are installing Russian engines in their fighters, including for export.
  Because it's not a question of technology, but a question of price. We need more numbers at a lower price. And if Chinese engines are cheaper than ours, why not save some money?
  We also bought North Korean missiles because they were much cheaper than our Iskander missiles. And we bought shells from Iran. But that doesn't mean we don't have our own engines, missiles, or shells. The air defense system simply needs to be as cost-effective as possible.
  1. Mikhail L.
    
    -2
    
    4 July 2026 09: 32
    
    AI:
    
    Yes, China has historically purchased and installed Russian engines in its fighters (for example, the AL-31F on the Su-27/Su-30 and the D-30KP-2 on the H-6K bomber). However, China is now actively transitioning to domestic power plants (WS-10 and WS-20 series engines) and gradually abandoning Russian products for its modern heavy aircraft.
    
    Is there anyone to follow as an example for "cost-effective water cooling"?
3. oao
  
  -1
  
  6 July 2026 02: 16
  
  So, we'll have to wait another 20 years for ours?
Ivan1978

-5

3 July 2026 10: 23

The cost of such a UAV is close to that of a missile, but its performance characteristics certainly cannot be compared with it. Overall, it is a rather poor solution, especially considering the weight of the UAV's warhead, which is smaller.
1. Igor M.
  
  +1
  
  4 July 2026 02: 31
  
  Ivan1978, it's actually much cheaper than a rocket. It's assembled from inexpensive parts. And, for example, the Parcel is made from mass-produced parts.
  They write that, on the contrary, the warhead mass is almost 2 times greater - 90 kg, compared to 50 kg for the Geranium-2.
  1. Ivan1978
    
    -5
    
    4 July 2026 11: 31
    
    Right, I forgot, they assemble consumer-grade machines from washing machines. Missiles also have 50-90 kg warheads?
ZnachWest

-4

3 July 2026 12: 20

Well, we will win against China, we can breathe a sigh of relief.
AC130 Gunship

-1

3 July 2026 15: 37

Many interceptor missiles operate on a collision course, and they don't need to catch up.
1. Mikhail L.
  
  +2
  
  3 July 2026 17: 47
  
  We are not talking about missiles, but about UAV interceptors.
  This is somewhat different.
  1. oao
    
    +1
    
    6 July 2026 02: 17
    
    But he can't read.
AC130 Gunship

-1

3 July 2026 15: 38

Quote: Mikhail L.
"with Chinese engines"?
Shame on you!

What, do you know of something else that no one in the aviation industry has heard of?
1. Mikhail L.
  
  -2
  
  3 July 2026 17: 45
  
  We need to produce engines ourselves, and even sell them to China!
Dmitry Volkov

+3

4 July 2026 08: 53

I think we will master mini-jet engines, but we have time, technology and samples, it may be even better than Western and Chinese turbojet engines, the most important thing is that the rate of attacks does not decrease, so that winter in Ukraine will be the last one
AC130 Gunship

0

7 July 2026 04: 19

Quote from oao
But he can't read.

Aside from a slight difference in speed, there's little difference between a UAV and a cruise missile. They share a fuselage, wings, empennage, engine, avionics, and payload. And they fly along the same trajectory. Putting aside conventional wisdom for a moment, a cruise missile is a UAV.
Petr_Yakovlev

0

7 July 2026 05: 55

Yeah, yeah... That lying English newspaper is trying hard to pin the "hunchback against the wall." Did Russia itself start buying jet engines from the Chinese? I don't believe it! Who taught the Chinese engine building? Russia has enough expertise and capacity.