Slaidiņš: Faster Russian Jet Drones Pose a Growing Threat to Ukraine
Major Jānis Slaidiņš of the Latvian National Armed Forces says the rising speed of Russian jet-powered drones is the main threat to Ukraine. Their mass use could make air defence considerably harder.
The increasing speed of the jet-powered drones Russia uses is the main threat to Ukraine in the war with Russia. This was stated on the TV24 programme “Aktuālais par karadarbību Ukrainā” (“The Latest on Hostilities in Ukraine”) by Jānis Slaidiņš, a major in Latvia's National Armed Forces (NBS) and an officer at the Home Guard (Zemessardze) headquarters. He drew attention to the way such drones could put pressure on Ukraine's air defence.
Speed and possible scale
According to Slaidiņš, jet drones can currently fly at up to 600 kilometres per hour, while some modifications can reach as much as 800 kilometres per hour.
He explained that Russia could step up its use of these unmanned aircraft. It might launch 120, 300 or even 500 jet drones per day, which would create additional challenges for Ukraine's air defence.
The interceptor drone question
Slaidiņš stressed that a key issue is Ukraine's ability to supply enough interceptor drones to stop such attacks. Interceptor drones are unmanned aircraft designed to shoot down other drones.
In his view, if Ukraine already has difficulties with the speed of its interceptor drones, shooting down Russian jet drones could be even harder. As these drones become faster and potentially more numerous, Ukraine's air defence could face serious difficulties.
Slaidiņš made the assessment on a TV24 programme that regularly covers the current situation in the fighting in Ukraine.
