Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence Directorate reported that russian occupation forces used a new strike weapon during terrorist missile attacks at the beginning of this year, identified as Geran-5 strike unmanned aerial vehicle, sharing several details about this new russian weaponry.
Although this new strike weapon belongs to the Geran-series strike drones lineup, unlike russian Shahed copies using flying wing configuration, the new strike drone is built on classical aerodynamic design, has a jet engine, and can quite easily be classified as a cruise missile.
Read more: Ukraine Spotted With New U.S. Tempest Air Defense, But $100K Missiles Make It Pricey for Shaheds 
Illustrative image of Geran-5 cruise missile / Open source image
From announced Geran-5 tactical-technical characteristics, it’s known to have approximately 1,000km range, warhead mass around 90kg (similar to other Gerans or IAI Harpy), this cruise missile’s length is about 6 meters with wingspan up to 5.5 meters. Other data on this weapon’s specifications aren’t yet reported.
What connects this cruise missile with the Geran series is using common key nodes and components russians went the maximum unification path here.
So Geran-5 received Telefly-series jet engine these are Chinese-manufactured engines spotted, for example, on Geran-3 jet drone (Telefly JT80), easily purchasable on civilian market. Which specific Telefly engine variant is used in Geran-5 missile isn’t yet known, but it’s noted to have greater thrust for obvious reasons.
Among other components integration of 12-channel Kometa satellite navigation system, Raspberry-based tracker, and 3G/4G modems, as Defense Intelligence of Ukraine reports.
Claimed as Geran-5 cruise missile debris / Open source photo
As intelligence emphasizes, the drone is structurally similar to iranian Karrar-type strike unmanned aerial vehicle, which is actually a sort of fighter drone whose tests occurred in 2023, during which Karrar equipped with AD-08 missile from Majid air defense system shot down an aerial target.
Actually, as Defense Intelligence of Ukraine says, russians are now working on a variant where their Geran-5 will be equipped with R-73 air-to-air missiles, posing additional threat to our aviation. russians are already experimenting with installing R-60 missiles and even Verba MANPADS on their Shahed copies.
Additionally, russians consider using Geran-5 cruise missile from aviation carriers, primarily Su-25 attack aircraft, potentially increasing this weapon’s range.
Defense Express previously reported how Ukrainian F-16s shoot down Shahed-type drones and other russian drones cheaply and cheerfully thanks to APKWS II missiles.