Ukrainian troops, using the upgraded ZIRKA interceptor drone, destroyed a Russian jet-powered Geran-5 unmanned aircraft at an altitude of 3,500 metres. This was reported by the technology project ZRK.tech, which developed the interceptor.
The target was hit by the “Retro” crew of Darknode Battalion of the 412th Nemesis Brigade, whose representatives took part in developing the interceptor.
ZIRKA is an interceptor drone made by the Ukrainian company Noctis, featuring an automatic guidance system, and was unveiled in June 2026. According to information on the project’s official website, its detection algorithm can identify aerial targets at a distance of up to one kilometre.
The machine-vision system helps to track targets automatically and, according to the developers, can increase the effectiveness of intercepting highly manoeuvrable objects by up to 60%.
The flight speed of the drone’s first version, according to the developers, is about 340 km/h. Its vertical climb rate reaches 40 m/s. This allows the drone to climb to an altitude of up to 6 km in a matter of minutes. According to the developers, its operational range is 30 km, and its endurance is 20 minutes.
In addition, the interceptor is equipped with an additional positioning system that helps determine its position in the air even if radar tracking is lost.