Russia has equipped the Geran-2 suicide UAV with advanced electro-optical sensors and data transmission systems, enhancing its attack accuracy and effectiveness against Ukraine.
On October 26, the Russian news outlet RusVesna released footage from the Geran-2 long-range suicide drone as it approached and struck a transformer station in Sumy province, northeastern Ukraine.“This marks the first visual evidence of an attack using the Geran-2 model, now equipped with an optical-electronic guidance system, which was introduced during President Vladimir Putin’s visit to the Special Technology Center in Saint Petersburg,” the report noted.Earlier footage showed a Geran-2 flying low over a series of trenches, although the time and location of this footage remain unclear.
Operational details were obscured to protect sensitive military information.According to RusVesna, the Stalinskiye Sokoly unit has fitted cameras to the Geran drones to target Ukrainian mobile air defense systems. Some drones will now be operated by personnel on the ground to effectively combat enemy defenses and safeguard allied UAVs.
Military analyst and former Indian Air Force major Vijainder K. Thakur discussed the recent video footage with Military Cognizance, asserting that the visuals were obtained using a military-grade electro-optical sensor, not the civilian IP cameras seen on some earlier Geran-2 drones deployed against Ukraine.“This advanced sensor acts like a ‘magic eye,’ enabling operators to accurately identify genuine targets and differentiate them from decoys.
Geran-2s outfitted with these sensors can either strike designated targets directly or relay coordinates for future attacks by other suicide drones,” he explained.The integration of an optical sensor and data link allows for post-launch target adjustments, transforming the Geran-2 into a “cruise bullet” capable of hovering until a specific target is identified for engagement. This advancement surpasses the capabilities of the original Geran-2 models, which were limited to pre-programmed flight paths and fixed coordinates.According to Andrey Mitrofanov, editor of the Russian military news outlet TopWar, the combination of standard Geran-2 drones with those featuring optical sensors enables Russian forces to employ wave attack strategies. The camera-equipped UAVs can assess the effectiveness of strikes and identify new targets for subsequent waves of drones.
To enable direct control of UAVs, a high-bandwidth two-way data link is essential. This setup allows for real-time transmission of high-definition video from the drone’s sensor to the operator while sending commands from the control station back to the aircraft. However, implementing this technology requires significant modifications to communication equipment, complicating large-scale deployment across thousands of units.
The specific signal transmission methods used by Russian forces in the new version of the suicide UAV remain unclear. However, previous reports indicated that Ukrainian forces discovered a Geran-2 drone wreck that was equipped with a 4G modem and a SIM card.Andrey Mitrofanov suggests that while a 4G SIM card can be a viable solution in the absence of high-speed satellite communications, it is not without its drawbacks. This option is susceptible to instability, prone to interruptions, and suffers from low bandwidth and high latency, functioning effectively only in areas with reliable telecommunications infrastructure.
Mitrofanov points out that beyond enhancing attack capabilities, one of the motivations for equipping the Geran-2 with optical sensors and video transmission systems is the need to provide visual evidence of successful strikes.“In modern warfare, the battlefield is intrinsically tied to media coverage. Combatants not only aim to defeat their opponents but also need to produce proof of their actions,” he explained.
The Geran-2 is thought to be a Russian adaptation of the Iranian-developed Shahed-136 suicide drone, boasting a range of 2,500 kilometers and a cruising speed of 185 kilometers per hour, with warhead options of either 50 kg or 90 kg, depending on the variant.Russia first deployed the Geran-2 in a series of air assaults against Ukraine in late 2022, specifically targeting the nation’s energy infrastructure and key facilities. Recently, Russian forces have utilized the Geran-2 alongside missiles to create overwhelming pressure on Ukraine’s air defense systems.
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