File image.
Russia has demonstrated a new capability to obtain live drone video feed from as deep inside Ukraine as the capital, Kyiv, using a drone to relay communications and record a strike as it unfolded.
The capability was revealed by footage of a September 25 attack on the Incom business center in the Ukrainian capital. A Geran-5 jet-powered one-way attack drone struck the building while another drone circled about three kilometers away, filming the impact in real time.
Ukrainian defense technology adviser Serhii “Flash” Beskrestnov said the second drone was a Geran-4 jet-powered drone that served as a communications relay for the Geran-5 while transmitting its own video of the attack. The arrangement allowed Russian operators to maintain contact with the strike drone and see the result of the attack immediately.
The Incom building, which housed infrastructure belonging to telecommunications company Datagroup, was hit in the strike.
The significance of the operation lies in the supporting drone’s role. Instead of depending on the attacking drone alone to provide information about the strike, Russia was able to keep a separate drone over the target and use it to transmit a live picture from inside the Ukrainian capital.
Beskrestnov said the Geran-4 drone later left Kyiv and flew to Brovary, where it struck a McDonald’s logistics warehouse. The drone therefore continued its mission after serving as the relay and filming platform for the Kyiv attack.
The Geran-4 is a deeply upgraded version of the Geran-3, which is alleged to be a copy of the Iranian Shahed-238 jet-powered drone.
The drone retains the overall delta-wing design, but with improved aerodynamic and stealth features. It is also equipped with a more powerful turbojet engine — allegedly a copy of the Chinese Telefly TF-TJ1600A. It can reportedly reach speeds between 350 and 500 kilometers per hour and has an effective range of 850 kilometers.
Meanwhile, the Geran-5 features a design — said to be inspired by Iran’s Karrar drone — that is more similar to that of a land-attack cruise missile.
The drone is reported to be propelled by a copy of the Chinese Telefly TF-TJ2000A turbojet engine, with a range of 1,000 kilometers and a speed between 450 and 600 kilometers per hour. It can be equipped with an artificial-intelligence-powered electro-optical targeting system, in addition to the basic jamming-resistant GLONASS-aided inertial navigation system.
The latest attack on Kyiv points to a more coordinated use of drones by Russia, with one drone carrying the weapon while another provides communications and real-time observation. This new capability could give the Russian military immediate battle-damage information even during strikes on targets far inside Ukrainian territory.
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if poland build a patriot factory for ukraine, this factory will be a legit target for russia. it has to be destroyed. and dont come with your article 5 bs, yo know exactly that nato cannot and will not strike russia. the day they strike russia will be the day that they will be atomically and hypersonically wiped off from the face of our planet earth. no weeks no months – no bullshit. that very same day. exept for the uk – they will have a nuclear tsunami instead.
this is really great! russian drone teams can now watch zelensky by his rooftop pool snorting coke off supermodels as they continue to kill russian speaking ukrainian fathers of three who were forcibly conscripted.
lol… this article just in from dw:
“russian students: propaganda in school prepares them to die”
shucks, it’s as if the germans are cribbing the latest british generals’ calls to die fighting russia for king and country.
eu brainmatter is mush. uk’s isn’t even that.