Ukrainian intelligence announced that Russian forces used a new and advanced kamikaze unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in air strikes for the first time on the battlefield. This new platform is a jet-powered long-range UAV called Geran-5 and has several important features that differ from previous models.
GUR officials stated that the Russians activated this platform in mixed air strikes in mid-January and that initial analysis showed that the platform had foreign design influence. Additionally, Geran-5 was said to have broader and more powerful strike capabilities compared to previous variants. This UAV, defined as approximately 6 meters long and 5.5 meters wingspan, can carry a warhead of approximately 90 kilograms and reach an attack range approaching 1,000 kilometers.
The differences between the two types of platforms are also striking. Unlike the Shahed type flying wing design of Iranian origin, Geran-5 has a conventional aerodynamic structure. These design choices enable the platform to achieve higher cruise speeds, high altitude performance, and facilitate the integration of external payloads. Ukrainian intelligence emphasizes that many subsystems of this new UAV are common with other Geran models and therefore a more scalable design is in question.
Target and Tactical Features
It is stated that Geran-5 was used by the Russians with missile fires from Su-25 warplanes. This indicates that Moscow is developing new tactics to extend the range on the battlefield and make it harder to detect. Additionally, Ukrainian forces state that the Russians are trying to integrate these UAVs with MANPADS systems, making air defense measures more complex.
Ukrainian sources claim that the JT80 turbojet engine of the Chinese company Telefly was used in the Geran-5’s engine. According to the statement made by Twz, this engine provides higher performance than the jet engine in Geran-3 and increases the speed of the UAV. The choice of jet engine allows the platform to reach higher speeds compared to propeller-powered models, which reduces the possibility of detection by air defense systems.
In particular, the wreckage of Geran-5, shot down by Ukrainian air defense, shows that this platform is an example of new generation UAV technology. These developments indicate that Russia has entered a new phase in measures against kamikaze UAVs.
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