Illustrative image.
Tehran asked Russia to provide its new generation of Geran drones earlier this year during the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, the Financial Times reported on September 13.
The report, citing Western security officials and a source close to the Kremlin, said Iran made the request after substantial improvements to Russia’s Geran family of drones.
The jet-powered Geran-4 and Geran-5, which follow earlier propeller-powered models, have recently entered the Russian special military operation in Ukraine. According to the report, the newer drones pose a greater threat than previous generations because they can more easily evade defenses.
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.
Last month, Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate, more commonly known as GUR, said Russia is now producing upwards of 3,000 Geran-4 and Geran-5 drones each month.
While both the Geran-5 and 4 are typically used for one-way attacks, they can be both armed with air-to-air missiles and deployed as interceptors, according to the GUR. The intelligence service also previously warned that the drones can be launched from Su-25 close air support jets, which would give them greater range.
Iran already produces similar jet-powered one-way attack drones. Tehran’s request to Russia, if true, is likely meant to up the arsenal of these systems. It is also very possible that the report is just a stunt meant to create tensions between the U.S. and Russia, to push the former to provide more support to Ukraine. Kyiv has struggled to secure as much military aid as before since the start of the war on Iran.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence
NOW hosted at southfront.press
Previously, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.org.
The .org domain name had been blocked by the US (NATO) (https://southfront.press/southfront-org-blocked-by-u-s-controlled-global-internet-supervisor/) globally, outlawed and without any explanation
Back before that, from 2013 to 2015, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.com
russia sucks. they won’t give iran anything. i don’t know why iran would even bother to ask.
im surprised no one is equipping their strike drones with bombs and missles to increase target variety. if the drone is used to striking the main target then the other attack weapons can be used to strike secondary targets before the main target is struck.