The Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR) of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine stated that since the beginning of 2026, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have used the new Geran‑5 rocket-propelled barrage munition for the first time during massive combined strikes on the territory of Ukraine.
The Ukrainian image of the new Russian jet barrage ammunition "Geran‑5" (c) GUR of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine
According to the GUR, "significant structural and technological similarities" of the Geran‑5 device with the Iranian Karrar jet barrage ammunition have been recorded, although they still differ in appearance. Like the previous versions of the Geranium series of barrage ammunition, the Geranium‑5 devices are manufactured in the Alabuga SEZ.
The Geran‑5 is structurally approaching a cruise missile. It is claimed that the Geranium‑5 has a length of about 6 meters and a wingspan of up to 5.5 meters. Unlike previous versions of the UAV line "Geran", the device "Geran‑5" is made according to a normal aerodynamic scheme. At the same time, most of the key components and components are unified with other samples in this series. In particular, the Comet 12-channel satellite navigation system and a control system based on a Raspberry microcomputer and 3G/4G modems are used.
The Gerani‑5 also has a small turbojet engine from the Chinese company Telefly Telecommunications Equipment Co., similar to that used on the Gerani‑3, but in a modification with higher thrust (reportedly up to 200 kg, which corresponds to the TF-TJ2000A engine). The mass of the Gerani‑5 warhead is about 90 kg, and the claimed flight range is up to 1,000 km.
Ukrainian resources also published information that in October-December 2025, the Russian side launched prototypes of another Geran‑4 rocket-propelled barrage munition on the territory of Ukraine. This device retains the aerodynamic layout of the "flying wing" characteristic of the Geran‑2 and Geran‑3 UAVs, but structurally it is a further development of the Geran‑3 jet modification. Although the Geranium‑3 devices (apparently the licensed Iranian Shahed-238) have been used periodically in small quantities against Ukraine since 2024, however, the combination of non‑optimized aerodynamic contours inherited from the piston-powered Geranium-2 and a rather weak Telefly TF-TJ800A turbojet engine with a thrust of about 80 kg makes the characteristics of the Geranium-3" very low - according to Ukrainian data, the cruising speed of the device is 280-300 km / h, and the range is from 360 to 600 km, and when trying to increase the speed it decreases even more.
As you can see, the Geranium‑4 has an optimized airframe with a thinner wing edge, and, apparently, increased strength, and also uses a more powerful turbojet engine with a thrust of up to 160 kg (apparently, the Telefly TF-TJ1600A). As a result, according to Ukrainian data, the cruising speed of the Gerani‑4 is already from 350 to 500 km/h, and the range is up to 850 km.
According to a Ukrainian source, the main method of launching the Geranium‑4 and Geranium‑5 spacecraft is launching from a ground catapult using solid‑fuel launch boosters, while it is claimed that the cost of the accelerator for Geranium-4 is 1 million rubles, and for Geranium-5 - 3 million rubles. It is reported that the possibility of launching the Geran‑4 and Geran‑5 spacecraft from Su-25 attack aircraft, with one device suspended under each wing of the attack aircraft on AKU-58 aircraft ejection devices, is being considered. At the same time, the cost of launching the Gerani‑4 and Gerani‑5 from the Su-25 will amount to 600 thousand rubles and 1.2 million rubles, respectively. In addition, the air launch allows you to increase the maximum flight range of the vehicles by about 100 km.
It is also planned to use the Geran‑4 and Geran‑5 devices to destroy air targets with the installation of a short-range R-73 air-to-air guided missile on them. It should be noted that in early January 2026, there were already reports of the alleged combat use of the Geran‑5 UAV (when it was not clear what was meant) with R-73 missiles.
The Ukrainian image of the new Russian jet barrage ammunition "Geran‑5" (c) social networks
The characteristics of the Geranium‑5 given in it differ somewhat from the more recent material of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.">
Ukrainian material about the new Russian rocket‑propelled barrage ammunition "Geran-4" and "Geran‑5". The characteristics of the Geranium‑5 given in it differ somewhat from the more recent material of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine (c) social networks
As stated, the wreckage of the downed new Russian jet barrage munition "Geran‑5" (c) GUR of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine
