Text taken from the Telegram channe of rybar
Commentary by Russian military journalist Boris Rozhin is in italics.
[ColonelCassad] NEW MODIFICATIONS OF THE GERAN ATTACK DRONES.
The development of weapons systems is constantly evolving, and the Geran drones remain one of the most striking examples. Over the past few years, Iranian-designed drones have been significantly modified in Russia and adapted to the realities of the new conflict. Now, the wreckage of a new drone model equipped with a jet engine has been discovered in enemy-controlled territory. This modification has been dubbed the Geran-3 in the media.
How does it differ from earlier models? The main feature of this new type of UAV is its turbojet engine, which, according to some reports, allows it to reach cruising speeds of up to 600 km/h and accelerate to 700 km/h in a dive. The increased flight speed significantly complicates the operations of Ukrainian Armed Forces mobile fire teams armed with small arms, forcing the enemy to employ short- and medium-range air defense systems, which are in short supply.
The installation of the new engine also allowed the drone's warhead weight to be increased to 250-300 kilograms. Its power became comparable to that of cruise missiles at a significantly lower production cost. This partially addressed the Geranium-2's lack of effectiveness in hitting targets, which even with a direct hit could only inflict limited damage.
he new model's advantages were most clearly demonstrated during the autumn campaign of strikes against the so-called Ukrainian energy sector. However, due to its higher cost, the Geranium-3 is unlikely to become the primary means of destroying enemy infrastructure. Its predecessor, which has also received numerous improvements in recent months, continues to fulfill this role.
WHAT WAS ADDED TO THE GERANIUM-2?
The drone's communications unit was modified. The latest models now universally feature a built-in repeater, allowing each UAV to act as a signal transmitter for the rest of the group. This, coupled with the installation of night vision devices and cameras for flight monitoring, has increased the overall effectiveness of the Geranium.
Now operators can avoid losing contact with the entire group due to the interception of several drones, as sometimes happened before. Changes have also affected the UAV's warhead. Over the past few months, models have been spotted with a payload increased to 90 kilograms, as well as with compartments for discharging cluster munitions and anti-tank mines. This expands the combat capabilities of the Geranium, allowing each drone to be customized for specific missions and combined during air strikes.
Russian manufacturers have not only significantly increased the total number of Geraniums produced but also provided the armed forces with a broader range of operational tools.
The faster Geran-3 has solved the problem of penetrating layered air defenses near the enemy's most important targets. The new modifications of its predecessor, which serves as the main strike weapon of the Russian Armed Forces, corrected the shortcomings of earlier models.
This has led to increased effectiveness of air strikes on the infrastructure of the so-called Ukraine, as has been repeatedly demonstrated by the events of the past few weeks.
The widespread use of new Geranium modifications in combination with other weapons has caused serious damage to the enemy's fuel and energy complex. Considering that their production in Russia is only expanding, things could get even worse for the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the near future.
As far as I know, in the coming months we will see a more than significant increase in the intensity of Geranium strikes (of all types) both behind enemy lines and in the frontline zone. The growth in production at Alabuga factories allows drones to be used both against enemy infrastructure and for purely tactical purposes.In terms of kamikaze drone development, our military-industrial complex has made tremendous progress in just three years, making Russia one of the global leaders in drone production. It's no coincidence that Ukraine and the US are now attempting to copy the Russian Geran.