Russia suddenly stops producing Geran-3 drones: Ukraine reveals why
Wreckage of a destroyed Geran drone (photo: Getty Images)
Russia has stopped producing Geran-3 jet-powered kamikaze drones, Ukraine's Defense Intelligence reported. The drone could reach speeds of up to 370 km/h and had a range of up to 1,000 km, according to Militarnyi, which received the information from Ukraine's Defense Intelligence.
How Geran-3 differed from its predecessor
Geran-3 is essentially the same airframe and component base as Geran-2, but instead of the conventional piston engine, the Russians installed a Telefly JT80 jet engine.
The airframe design was changed only minimally, but the new propulsion system allowed the drone to reach speeds of 300–370 km/h and increased its flight range to 1,000 km.
Internal systems and foreign components
The drone was equipped with a SADRA inertial navigation system, a pressure measurement unit, a power distribution unit, and a number of other modules. The Kometa-M12 satellite system with a 12-element adaptive antenna array protects the drone against interference and jamming.
Ukraine's Defense Intelligence also calculated that the drone contains 45 foreign components, with the largest number coming from the United States (22), as well as components from China, Switzerland, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Japan.
What will replace it
According to intelligence officials, Geran-3 was only a transitional model leading to the next version, Geran-4, whose airframe was specifically designed for the new Telefly LX-WP-160 jet engine. The new drone's takeoff weight increased from 350 to 450 kg, while its more powerful engine also increased its speed and flight range.
In early August, it became known that the Russians had made Shahed drones even more dangerous by equipping the Geran-4 Seeker, a jet-powered drone, with a new guidance system and an electro-optical module for more accurate targeting, even if communication is lost.
In response, the Armed Forces of Ukraine unveiled their own development, the ZIRKA automated high-speed drone interception system, created specifically to counter jet-powered Geran drones.
In addition, Russians used depleted uranium munitions against Ukraine, equipping Geran-2 attack drones with them. The dangerous elements were discovered during attacks on the Chernihiv region.
