Click to see full-size image. (Telegram)
The existence of an interceptor version of Russia’s latest Geran-4 jet-powered drone armed with an R-60M short-range air-to-air missile has been confirmed.
The presence of the Geran-4 itself was revealed very recently by Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate, more known by its acronym GUR.
The Geran-4 was described as 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 maintains the overall delta-wing design, but with better aerodynamic and stealth features. It is also equipped with a more powerful jet engine – allegedly a copy of the Chinese Telefly TF-TJ1600A-.
The drone could reportedly reach speeds between 350 and 500 kilometers per hour, and has an effective range of 850 kilometers.
The information revealed by the GRU indicated that the Geran-4 was not developed only to carry out one-way, or suicide, attacks, but also to intercept aerial targets. This was confirmed on January 14, when photos surfaced online showing the wreckage of the interceptor version with the R-60M missile.
The missile is apparently placed in a standard APU-60-I launcher attached to the belly of the Geran-4. It was likely installed in this position not to block the intake of the jet engine, which is located on top.
An interceptor version of the propeller-driven Geran-2 -which is alleged to be a copy of Iran’s Shahed-136- that appeared last month was also armed with the R-60M. However, it was placed on an inverted APU-60-I launcher mounted on top of the drone.
The R-60M, first introduced in the early 1980s, is equipped with a nitrogen-cooled infrared seeker with an improved sensitivity and resistance to countermeasures like flares compared to earlier models. It has an engagement range of eight kilometers.
The missile weighs just 45 kg, which makes it perfect for arming the Geran-4, which can reportedly carry a payload weighing 50 kg. The 1,6 kg warhead of the missile utilizes both optical and radar proximity fuses.
Click to see full-size image. (Telegram)
Click to see full-size image. (Telegram)
Just like the interceptor version of the Geran-2, the Geran-4 is likely equipped with a GLONASS-aided inertial navigation system, along with some sort of a thermal imaging search and tracking system and a two-way data link.
The interceptor version of the Geran-2 -which has a speed of speed of 180 kilometers per hour and a range under 2,500 kilometers- was developed to to shot down slower Ukrainian aircraft used as drone hunters, like helicopters and modified architectural fixed-wing planes, over the special military zone, but considering its much higher speed, the Geran-4 may be able to intercept faster aerial targets in suitable conditions.
Along with the Geran-4, the GRU revealed the presence of the much larger Geran-5, a jet-powered drone with a design mimicking more traditional cruise missiles. It is said to have a speed between 450 and 600 kilometers, with a range close to 1,000 kilometers and the ability to carry a payload weighing up to 90 kg. An interceptor version of the Geran-5, also armed with the R-60M, was reported.
Interestingly, one of the documents released by the GRU claims that the interceptor versions of both the Geran-4 and 5 are designed to be launched from warplanes, namely the Su-25 close air support jet. This capability is yet to be confirmed, however.
Russia expanded the Geran program significantly over the past year, with some reports suggesting that the country could soon produce as many as 6,000 such drones a month.
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who do you think will defend putler when trump goes to prison for attempting to steal greenland, pedophilia, and personal gain as the presidential position?
it’s the clinton’s whar are getting arrested for refusing to honour a subpoena to answer questions about their knowledge of pedophilia bill was ordered to appear yesterday but refused and i think hilly failed to appear today .
when someone offers to pay they aren’t stealing he isn’t a pedophile and you need nancy pelosi regarding personal gain as house speaker.as for trump him running for president has cost him hundreds of millions , had him nearly assassinated twice and he never needed any of it . he would be wealthier if he had never gotten involved.
and on gains there biden family millions in ukraines energy infrastructures. plus who knows what else has been swept under the rug by lawfare .
see you know too only idiots wouldn’t.