New Russian kamikaze drone debuts at Victory Day parade

Russia has publicly unveiled a new jet-powered strike drone, the Geran-5, during its May 9 Victory Day parade, marking the first confirmed appearance of a more advanced long-range kamikaze system in its arsenal.

Broadcast on national television, the Geran-5 represents a significant upgrade from the propeller-driven Geran-1 and Geran-2 drones, which are derived from Iran’s Shahed-136 and have been widely used in attacks on Ukraine. Measuring around 6 meters in length with a wingspan of up to 5.5 meters, the new drone is substantially larger and powered by a turbojet engine, increasing its speed and altering its radar and acoustic signature, as per Defence Blog.

Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence Directorate (GUR) has assessed that the drone’s design closely resembles Iran’s Karrar unmanned combat aircraft, pointing to continued Russian-Iranian defence cooperation.

Technical analysis indicates the Geran-5 uses a layered navigation system combining inertial navigation (SADRA/MINSOO), satellite guidance (Kometa-M12), and telemetry via a Tracker V3 system built on a Raspberry Pi microcomputer with 3G and LTE connectivity. A Xingkai Tech modem supports communications. This multi-layered setup allows the drone to maintain functionality even if parts of its navigation system are jammed or disrupted.

The drone’s components reportedly include parts sourced from China, the United States, and Germany, highlighting ongoing challenges for Western export controls.

Satellite imagery has identified launch infrastructure for the Geran-5 in Russia’s Oryol region. The launch systems, estimated at around 80 meters in length, are significantly larger than those used for earlier models, suggesting a heavier and faster platform.

The introduction of a jet-powered kamikaze drone could complicate Ukrainian air defenses. Higher speeds reduce interception time, while the drone’s redundant navigation systems make it more resistant to electronic warfare measures. Although its payload capacity remains unconfirmed, its larger size suggests increased destructive potential.

By Tamilla Hasanova