Russia begins using new version of Geran strike drone

Russia has begun using a new modification of the Geran-5 K5 strike UAV equipped with the Susanin autonomous optical navigation system, according to monitoring channels.

The system reportedly allows the drone to navigate using images of the Earth’s surface, essentially matching what it sees with reference images loaded in advance. This enables the UAV to continue flying along a predetermined route even if communication with its operator is lost and satellite navigation is unavailable.

The Geran family has evolved significantly since Russia began receiving Iranian Shahed drones in 2022, with Russia later establishing domestic production and progressively modifying the design, including adding cameras, larger warheads and other systems.

The Geran-5 represents a newer, jet-powered branch of this development: Ukrainian intelligence first reported its combat use in January 2026, describing a roughly 90-kg warhead, a stated range of about 1,000 km and substantial similarities to Iran’s Karrar drone.

By September 2026, analysts at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies described the wider Geran program as a rapidly evolving weapons platform, with Russia repeatedly modifying propulsion, communications, payloads and other capabilities in response to battlefield conditions.

By Jeyhun Aghazada