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The Russian military has begun testing a new loitering munition version of the Geran-2 fixed-wing drone, Ukrainian media reported.
The Geran-2 is reportedly a derivative from the Shahed-136 suicide drone which was developed by Iran’s Shahed Aviation Industries.
Loitering munitions are a class of suicide drones. Basic suicide drones like the original Geran-2 or Shahed-136 are designed to carry out pre-programmed, one-way attack missions against static targets only, relying mainly on a satellite-aided inertial navigation system.
However, loitering munitions are designed to loiter until they designate a target, then they could attack it even if it was on the move. To achieve this, this type of suicide drones are typically equipped with an additional electro-optical guidance system and two-way data link.
A loitering munition version of the Geran-2 was spotted in the special military operation zone in Ukraine before. That version had a nose cone-mounted electro-optical system, more like a seeker with a limited field of view.
The new version is, however, equipped with a gambled electro-optical system installed right below the nose section. This allows the system to cover a much wider field of view for reconnaissance, while at the same time it could still act as a seeker when the drone is diving heads down towards the target.
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The Geran-2, which is powered by a four-cylinder two-stroke gasoline engine, has a range of up to 2,500 kilometers and can carry a warhead weighing 30-50 kg.
It is unclear how much of that range is covered by the two-way data-link the loitering munition is equipped with. The data-link is essential for the guidance system. Through it, the operator can utilize the onboard electro-optical system to designate a target and even fly the drone right into it in what is known as “man-in-the-loop” guidance.
Russia expanded the Geran program significantly over the past year, with recent reports suggesting that the country could soon produce as many as 6,000 such drones a month. The number covers the Geran-2, the lighter pusher-propelled Geran-1, and the jet-powered Geran-3 which is way faster.
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in burgerland we innovate nothing except fentanyl and lgbt
and meth and burgers
as the drone is controlled by a data link and not via direct satellite control it shows that russian spy satellites are transmitting information to a ground unit that then sends the info to the drone that way there is less chance of satellite link disruption. it also shows improved satellite surveillance.
more new russian toys destroying the banking cartel bit by bit. an early christmas present for the bank of england and its eu slave nations