Wild Hornets has published footage of its new STING S interceptor drone destroying a Russian jet-powered Geran-5, with the Rubin crew of Ukraine’s 1020th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment carrying out the shootdown. The combat use was first reported on 20 September, following video release the previous day, and marks the latest Ukrainian attempt to counter faster Russian strike drones with low-cost drone-on-drone air defence.
The intercepted Geran-5 is a higher-speed variant than earlier propeller-driven models, carrying a larger warhead and demanding a faster interceptor. Wild Hornets has not disclosed the STING S specifications, but the variant appears to be an enlarged development of the baseline STING with improved aerodynamics and more powerful engines. Footage shows the interceptor striking the drone in the lower fuselage before the target breaks apart in mid-air.
The baseline STING line has already been credited with a high success rate against slower Shahed- and Geran-type drones. The new combat use suggests Ukraine is adapting that system for a different class of threat, although the exact guidance, range and production status of STING S remain unconfirmed.