The beginning of 2026 began with the appearance of a new type of dangerous weapon in the sky of Ukraine. The Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine announced on Sunday that the Russian Armed Forces launched the first strike drone called "Geran-5," which differs from previous ones in size and capabilities.
Technical capabilities of the new drone
According to intelligence, the "Geran-5" attracts attention with its enormous size:
- Dimensions: Length approximately 6 meters, wing width 5.5 meters.
- Strike power: The drone's combat unit weighs 90 kg and is capable of destroying targets at a distance of 1000 kilometers.
- Technological base: Although the device is based on a "simple aerodynamic scheme," it is equipped with a "Kometa" navigation system, equipped with a Raspberry microcomputer and 3G/4G modems. The drone is powered by a Telefly jet engine.
Iranian trail and structural similarities
Ukrainian intelligence specialists emphasize that the "Geran-5" is not an entirely independent Russian development. It is structurally very similar to the Iranian "Karrar" drone. Russian engineers managed to optimize production by unifying this model with other models of the "Geran" series.
Integration with aviation and new plans
The Russian military leadership is looking for new ways to increase the effectiveness of using these drones:
- Flight launch: The possibility of launching the "Geran-5" from Su-25 fighter jets is being considered. This will increase the drone's flight range and reduce costs.
- Air-to-Air missiles: There are also plans to equip the aircraft with special missiles to combat Ukrainian aviation.
War Economics: Cheap and Dangerous
International experts, including Fabian Hints, believe that the Russian army continues its strategy of exhausting Ukrainian air defense systems through "crowd attacks."
- Cost: the Geran-2 drone costs about 60 thousand dollars, while new simplified models (for example, based on the Shahed-107) are even cheaper due to Chinese components.
- The goal: to force Ukraine to spend expensive anti-aircraft missiles against cheap drones and distract from the main ballistic attacks.
Currently, GUR specialists are carefully studying the captured samples. A detailed report on the electronic components and internal structure of the drone is expected to be presented to the public soon.
How serious, in your opinion, will the emergence of new types of jet drones be a test for the Ukrainian air defense system?
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