Illustrative image.
A Russian Geran-5 jet-powered one-way attack drone flew 1,500 kilometers across Ukraine on October 19, circling the western city of Lviv six times, the Russian newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta reported, citing Ukrainian media.
The drone crossed Ukraine from east to west before making a wide loop around Lviv, near the Polish border, according to the newspaper, which described the flight as a record distance for the drone type.
The report also said Russian Geran-type drones attacked targets in Ukraine’s western regions of Volyn, Rivne and Ternopil, as well as in Ivano-Frankivsk.
A separate report published Monday by Russia’s Public News Service identified the drone involved in the long-distance flight as a Geran-4 rather than a Geran-5. Citing the Telegram channel Osvedomitel, it said the drone traveled more than 1,400 kilometers and circled Lviv six times during what it described as a reconnaissance flight.
The news service said the drone was launched from Russia’s Oryol region, citing Ukrainian monitoring resources. It also reported that the drone may have carried a reduced warhead to extend its flight range and duration.
The Geran-4 is 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 retains the overall delta-wing design, but with improved aerodynamic and stealth features. It is also equipped with a more powerful turbojet engine — allegedly a copy of the Chinese Telefly TF-TJ1600A. It can reportedly reach speeds between 350 and 500 kilometers per hour and has an average range of 850 kilometers.
Meanwhile, the Geran-5 features a design said to be inspired by Iran’s Karrar drone and is more similar to a land-attack cruise missile.
The drone is reported to be propelled by a copy of the Chinese Telefly TF-TJ2000A turbojet engine, with a range of 1,000 kilometers and a speed between 450 and 600 kilometers per hour. It can be equipped with an artificial-intelligence-powered electro-optical targeting system, in addition to the basic jamming-resistant GLONASS-aided inertial navigation system.
Both drones underwent serious upgrades in recent months, including in design and propulsion, which makes the record flight over Lviv unsurprising.
Ukrainian defense technology adviser Serhiy Beskrestnov said last week that some Geran-4 drones launched from the Crimean Peninsula reached Lutsk, covering about 880 kilometers, as Russian forces expanded their use of the drones against targets farther west.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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
and what is general armagedon doing? why are the bridges in kiev still operating. this is ridiculous.
there is a plan, you are not privy to it.
was it on its way to poland to hit ukraine’s drone launch site to st petersburg?
russian weapons keep getting faster and harder to detect by ukrainian globalist minions.