Russia is preparing to mass-produce a new generation of low-cost strike missiles that could become the next stage of development beyond jet-powered Geran drones, according to Ukrainian presidential adviser Sergey Beskrestnov.

Speaking on Ukraine’s Inter television channel, Beskrestnov said the new weapons would no longer be jet-powered versions of the Shahed but would instead resemble cruise missiles in both appearance and capabilities. He claimed they would fly faster, maneuver in flight and operate at very low altitudes.

Beskrestnov linked the development of the new missiles to Ukraine’s efforts to improve its ability to intercept jet-powered drones. In his assessment, Russia expects Kiev eventually to deploy enough jet interceptors to effectively counter such targets and is therefore moving ahead with the next generation of strike weapons.

One of the main differences is expected to be greater flexibility in how the missiles are launched. Unlike Shahed-type drones, they would not require dedicated ground launch sites, which Beskrestnov described as vulnerable because Ukrainian forces search for and attack such positions.

According to the Ukrainian official, the new missiles could instead be dropped from helicopters, interceptor aircraft or drones. This would allow launches to take place closer to the Ukrainian border while making launch positions more difficult to detect.

Beskrestnov identified Dan-T as the next version following the older Banderol system. He also named Dan-M and Gerbera-5 among the weapons under development, describing them as inexpensive jet-powered missiles that pose a threat to Ukraine.

He also claimed that Russia plans to manufacture the new missiles on a large scale, with production volumes expected to be no lower than those of Geran drones.