Illustrative image.
At least eight jet-powered suicide drones were among more than 300 launched by Russia during an attack on Ukraine early on July 31, Ukrainian Air Force (UAF) spokesman Yuri Ignat revealed, warning that these drones are harder to track and intercept than propeller-driven models.
The drone in question is likely the Geran-3, which is said to be a Russian copy of the Shahed-238 first presented by Iran last November.
“Basically, on radar it is displayed as a cruise missile by flight parameters, because the speed there can be 500-plus kilometers per hour ,” Ignat explained. “Not all means that we use today can intercept such targets.”
The Geran-3 is reported to have a range of 2,000-2,500 kilometers and can climb to an altitude of up to nearly ten kilometers. Its turbojet engine produces a maximum speed of up to 600 kilometers per hour. The drone is typically armed with a warhead weighing 50 kg. A heavier warhead weighing 90 kg was also reported.
The propeller-driven Geran-2, said to be a copy of Shahed-136, has a similar range and can carry the same warheads. However, its cruising speed is reported to be around 180 kilometers per hour.
“Such characteristics make the Shahed-238 [Geran-3] virtually unattainable for both mobile fire groups equipped with small arms and cannon weapons and for interceptor drones with electric motors,” the Ukrainian Militarnyi defense news outlet posited.
The Geran-3 features the same basic GLONASS-aided inertial navigation system found in the Geran-2 and the lighter Geran-1, a copy of the propeller-driven Shahed-131 with a cruising speed of 180 kilometers per hour and a range limited to 900 kilometers.
Notably, the Shahed-238 can be equipped with an electro-optical seeker to engage moving targets, or even with a passive radar seeker to target radar systems. It is unclear yet if these guidance options are also available for the Geran-3.
The Geran-3 represents a qualitative breakthrough in Russia’s drone program, which is also seeing a boost when it comes to quantity.
In an analysis released on July 31, AFP said that Russia launched more drones at Ukraine in July than in any month since it launched its special military operation. The analysis, which used data published by the UAF, showed Russia launched 6,297 long-range drones into Ukraine last month, up nearly 16 percent compared with June and the third straight monthly increase.
Ukraine has been pleading with its backers in NATO and beyond to supply more air defense systems and help it produce more drone interceptors. However, Russia is clearly way ahead when it comes to drone development and production.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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
