Ukraine says AI robotic gun turrets downed Russia’s fastest attack drones

Ukraine has used artificial intelligence-enabled robotic gun turrets to shoot down Russia’s fastest attack drones for the first time, according to a senior Ukrainian Air Force official cited by Business Insider. Yurii Inhat said the automated systems intercepted Russian jet-powered drones, including the Geran-5. The development matters because Kyiv is trying to adapt quickly to faster aerial threats that are harder to stop than older propeller-driven models.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said more than a dozen turrets were installed around Kyiv, with another eight planned for deployment across the wider region. At least some are set to be installed on Kyiv’s bridges, which Russian forces have targeted multiple times with drones during a broader escalation against civilian infrastructure. Ukraine has not disclosed the specific turret type, but Zelenskyy said the system features a .50-caliber machine gun.

Russia is increasingly using drones powered by mini turbojet engines, with Kyiv saying Moscow launched 2,800 in August compared with 350 in June. The Geran-5 can reach speeds of up to 375 mph, making it the newest and fastest model in service cited in the report. Inhat said the interception rate for jet-powered drones is 50% to 70%, compared with over 85% for older, slower propeller-powered drones like the Geran-2.

The turret deployment is part of a wider push to strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses against high-speed drone attacks. Ukrainian defense companies are also upgrading interceptor drones, and some next-generation models have already shot down jet-powered drones, including the Geran-5. Zelenskyy said the “Bars” long-range drone has the highest success rate among Ukrainian interceptors, with a 30% shoot-down rate, adding that others are catching up.