Russia has modernized the Geran-4; the drone has been equipped with a new navigation system and warhead
Russia has made a number of modifications to the “Geran-4” long-range strike drone, upgrading its navigation systems, power plant, and warhead. According to analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), this modernization could potentially increase the drone’s resilience to electronic warfare (EW) measures.
Russia continues to improve its strike drones and develop new variants, which are used to attack Ukrainian infrastructure and targets near the front lines.
At the same time, Russia is attempting to expand the capabilities of its drones faster than Ukraine can scale up effective countermeasures.
ISW analysts note that the Russian side has made changes to several key systems of the “Geran-4.” These include the optical navigation system, compass, power plant, and warhead.
In particular, the drone has been equipped with new autonomous navigation components, including a high-precision magneto-inductive sensor manufactured in the United States.
This component could potentially help the drone independently determine its direction of travel and navigate even while electronic warfare systems are in operation.
Consequently, the upgrade may reduce the “Gerani-4’s” dependence on external navigation signals and make it more difficult to jam using electronic warfare systems.
The changes also affected the drone’s power plant. Russia replaced the Chinese-made jet engine with a new engine of its own production.
It is manufactured in the “Alabuga” Special Economic Zone, which Russia uses to localize the production of certain drone components.
According to the ISW, this allows Russia to gradually shift part of its production processes within the country and reduce its dependence on foreign-made components.
Separately, Russia has modernized the warhead of the “Geran-4.” The new drones are equipped with a specialized KRSN cumulative-cutting warhead.
According to ISW, it is designed to destroy fortified structures made of steel and concrete. In particular, such a warhead can be used to damage cable-stayed bridges.
Analysts noted that in recent days, Russian forces have intensified their attacks on Kyiv’s North and South Bridges across the Dnipro River.
At the same time, Russia is expanding the capabilities of other unmanned systems. This involves not only increasing their production but also improving their speed, maneuverability, and the use of various launch platforms.
On October 5, the 8th Army Corps of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported the interception of a new Russian reconnaissance drone, the “Molniya-13.”
According to available information, the new version is about one and a half times larger than previous models and is equipped with four engines.
ISW analysts note that Russian developers continue to adapt drones to wartime conditions and are attempting to expand their combat capabilities.
The ISW warned of the possible consequences of further modernization of Russian attack drones:
“Russia may attempt to deploy new, more resilient, and dangerous models of its attack drones before Ukraine can develop effective countermeasures, in order to disrupt Ukrainian energy infrastructure and logistics this fall, a likely brutal campaign of strikes expected this coming winter,” the ISW concluded.
This is according to a report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
On the night of October 6, Russian forces launched 137 attack drones at Ukraine, including 49 jet-powered ones. Ukrainian defense forces shot down most of the drones, but some hits were also recorded.
As a reminder, Russia struck a residential building in Zaporizhzhia, resulting in casualties.
Earlier, an explosion occurred in Odesa during a Russian attack.
In Sumy, a Russian FPV drone damaged three cars.
Photo: The State Emergency Service showed the aftermath of the nighttime Russian attack on Kyiv.
In the Pecherskyi district of the capital, debris from a drone fell into the courtyard of a private residence.
