The Russian military is testing what appears to be a miniature version of the Geran drone, Ukrainian media reported on June 22.
The fixed-wing drone, which is equipped with a first-person-view camera and a two-way datalink, was spotted more than once along the Russian-Ukrainian border recently. One drone that crashed didn’t contain any warhead, which suggests that this type was mainly designed to carry out reconnaissance.
Still, just like larger drones of the Geran family, the new drone could carry a warhead for use in one-way attacks. It could also be used as a decoy.
Russia already produces three versions of the Geran, which are alleged to be copies of the Iranian-made Shahed-131, 136 and 238 suicide drones.
The Geran-1 and 2 are both pusher-propelled. The first has a range of 900 kilometers with a warhead weighing 15 kg, while the second has a range of 2,500 kilometers with a warhead weighing 50 kg. Meanwhile, the Geran-3, which is propelled by a turbojet engine, has a range of 2,500 kilometers and a warhead weighing 90 kg.
All three versions of the Geran are guided via a GLONASS-aided inertial navigation system. Loitering munition versions with terminal electro-optical homing, including one with an artificial intelligence model, are reported to be at least in development.
Due to their small radar cross-section and minimal infrared signature, Geran drones are extremely difficult to intercept. A smaller version would be even harder to deal with.
The use of Geran drones expanded significantly over the past year. In addition, the drones are constantly being upgraded and refined by the Russian military.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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
we’re testing orc & muslim fertilizer…heheheh
why is the camera mounted there?