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Russian military engineers are developing new variants of attack drones, adding further challenges for Ukrainian air defenses. Following the introduction of jet-powered Geran-4/5 Siker UAVs, Russian forces have reportedly begun deploying an upgraded version of the Garpia-A1 kamikaze drone equipped with a jet engine.
Footage recently circulated on Ukrainian Telegram channels appears to show the new modification. The video was recorded by a camera mounted on a Ukrainian interceptor drone.
Unmanned aviation specialists who examined the footage identified several design features suggesting that the aircraft could be a Garpia-A1. Their assessment focused on the positioning of the aileron servos and the propulsion system.
One distinctive characteristic is the engine configuration. Unlike comparable Geran-series drones, the Garpia-A1 has its power unit deeply recessed into the fuselage.
Development and production of the Garpia-A1 reportedly began in mid-2023 at the Izhevsk Electromechanical Plant Kupol, part of the Almaz-Antey aerospace defense concern.
Official technical specifications for the original drone have not been disclosed. However, the aircraft is known to use a tailless aerodynamic configuration, featuring a triangular wing with vertical endplates and a compact fuselage with an elongated nose.
The initial Garpia-A1 variant was powered by a piston engine driving a pusher propeller.
The upgraded model, believed to have been captured in the Ukrainian interceptor footage, replaces that propulsion system with a jet engine.
Jet-powered drones of this type were first displayed in early October 2026 at an exhibition held during the Center-2026 military exercises.