The series of Russian Geran kamikaze drones has significantly surpassed the basic Iranian Shahed version, transforming into a modular platform similar to commercial drones like the Chinese DJI Mavic or the Turkish Bayraktar TB2. This is according to Bulgarian Military.
One of the new modifications of the Geran is equipped with an antenna with a Controlled Radiation Pattern Antenna (CRPA), which surpasses the Iranian Nasir navigation systems. CRPA is capable of receiving GPS signals in the L1, L5 bands and is resistant to electronic warfare.
The first models of the Geran carried 50-kg high-explosive warheads. New modifications have received incendiary and thermobaric warheads, some of which weigh up to 90 kg.
In addition, the developers have increased the capabilities of the UAV by introducing thermal imagers, artificial intelligence modules, and an Nvidia Jetson Orin processor.
These systems allow the use of machine vision for autonomous target recognition, allowing the drone to determine thermal signatures or shapes even in the absence of a GPS signal.
The author of Bulgarian Military emphasized that modularity makes the Geran a versatile tool: to be a kamikaze drone, a reconnaissance platform, or a decoy to deplete enemy air defense.
Unlike the Bayraktar TB2, which costs over $2 million apiece, the price of the Geran is tens of times lower.
The publication's expert believes that the Geran has become a technologically advanced platform. In the future, it can be exported to other countries.
Read more on the topic:
Air defense decoy drone "Gerbera" photographed: more than 14 thousand have already been released
Will replace fighters: it was proposed to arm Geran drones with air-to-air missiles R-60M
The use of the new Geran with optical guidance was shown for the first time on video
