Iran Reportedly Asked Russia for Advanced Geran Attack Drones

Overview

• The Financial Times, citing unnamed Western security officials, reported that Tehran asked Moscow this year for upgraded Russian-made Geran drones; the request and many technical details remain unconfirmed.
• Geran models are upgraded from Iran's Shahed designs and have been modified by Russia to add longer range, faster flight and larger warheads compared with earlier Shahed types.
• One version carries a small warhead and flies at modest propeller speeds while a jet-powered Geran variant is reported to travel far faster, carry about 90 kg of explosives and reach much longer distances.
• Western reporting says newer Geran variants include thermal imaging, AI guidance, Russian anti-jamming antennas and Chinese communications modems, changes enabled by Russia's centralised production and battlefield-driven upgrades.
• Analysts warn the drones cost far less than missiles, which could let users launch more strikes for the same money and complicate air defence planning for states such as Israel and the United States.