Russia’s latest Geran-4 and Geran-5 jet-powered drones have significantly changed the nature of aerial warfare in the Ukraine conflict, according to the Financial Times.

The newspaper reported that the Geran-5 can reach speeds of up to 600 km/h and carry a 90-kilogram warhead over distances of up to 1,000 kilometers. Its design, the FT noted, already brings it close to the category of a cruise missile.

The new Russian drones are also equipped with thermal imaging cameras, guidance systems incorporating artificial intelligence, anti-jamming antennas and modems.

Sergey Beskrestnov, an adviser to the Ukrainian defense minister, said a Russian operator can fly the drone at an altitude of two to five kilometers, identify a target and lock onto it with the onboard camera, after which the aircraft carries out the attack automatically.

According to the Financial Times, the large-scale appearance of these drones caught Ukrainian officials and manufacturers off guard. Kiev had expected Russia to focus primarily on the Geran-3, which has a speed of around 300 km/h.

Instead, Russian forces concentrated on faster and longer-range models, creating additional interception difficulties for the Ukrainian military.

Polish military analyst Konrad Muzyka said the latest Russian drones are effectively erasing the distinction between an unmanned aircraft and a cruise missile. He also suggested that such systems could eventually acquire stealth characteristics.