Russia has pulled ahead of Ukraine and NATO countries in drone technology, gaining a significant advantage through new developments in unmanned aviation. Military expert and air defense historian Yuri Knutov made the assessment in an interview with NEWS.ru, highlighting two breakthroughs that have strengthened Russia’s capabilities.

The first major advance involves jet engines powered by aviation kerosene, which Russian developers have created and begun actively using in the production of Geran drones. According to Knutov, introducing this technology marked a decisive leap forward and gave Russia the upper hand in the air.

Another crucial development is the Susanin navigation system, which enables unmanned aircraft to navigate using GLONASS satellites and preloaded digital maps. During flight, the onboard equipment periodically activates to compare the surrounding terrain with stored geographic data and satellite imagery of the intended target. Knutov maintains that this method renders enemy electronic warfare systems completely ineffective.

Russia’s progress in unmanned aviation has also drawn attention in Ukraine. Sergey Beskrestnov, an adviser to the Ukrainian president on defense technologies, previously reported that Russian Geran drones can reach speeds of up to 1,000 km/h. He acknowledged that Kiev is struggling to keep pace with the advanced technologies now available to Russian forces.