Overview
- Ukraine’s defense intelligence reports the Geran-5 was used for the first time in early 2026 during combined air strikes.
- The drone measures about 6 meters by 5.5 meters, carries roughly a 90-kilogram warhead, and has a declared range near 1,000 kilometers.
- A Telefly JT80-type turbojet provides greater thrust than earlier Geran models, with officials saying the speed makes interception harder.
- Key systems mirror prior Geran/Shahed designs, including a 12-channel Kometa navigation unit and a Raspberry Pi–based tracker, while its airframe resembles Iran’s Karrar.
- Ukrainian officials say Russia is exploring air-launch from Su-25s and considering R-73 missiles, as Ukrainian specialists examine recovered wreckage for a forthcoming technical report.