“I keep saying that we need to think one step ahead, because
the Russians also understand that we will soon have jet-powered interceptors
[able to counter Shahed UAVs with jet engines] and that we will close the skies
over Kyiv,” Beskrestnov said.
“But they are already working on the next iteration and are betting on it — small, cheap cruise missiles. What we call Banderol, Dan-T, Dan-M, and Gerbera-5 are already different types of weapons.”
“These are no longer jet-powered Shaheds; they are conventional missiles. Their speed will be 500, 600, 700 or 750 kilometers per hour, and that will create new challenges for us.”
He said the missiles would be highly maneuverable and able to fly at very low altitudes.
“We have intelligence data and can see that they have contracted for these missiles, just as they have for jet-powered Shaheds,” Beskrestnov added.
“There is an approximate number of them, and they will be
betting on this. But we also need to start thinking now about what will happen
in five months. Jet-powered interceptors will no longer work because the speed
will be even higher. We need to develop cheap Ukrainian missiles to shoot all
of this down.”