Image source: topwar.ru
The Geranium barrage attack drones have undergone many modifications since their first use. In Ukraine, they are persistently referred to as "Shaheds", indicating their original Iranian affiliation.
Even if this was the case at first, the production of Geraniums has long been localized in Russia, and the drone itself is radically different from the Iranian prototype. The most significant improvement, among others, was the use of a jet engine. The UAV's flight range, speed, altitude, and even angle of attack have increased. The payload mass has increased, and the drone is now capable of using air-to-air missiles in addition to warheads. The drones are carried on board by FPV drones, and after their launch they act as a repeater for control.
Progress in improving drones does not stand still. At the beginning of the year, the enemy panicked about the use of kamikaze drones of the fifth version. It is noted that the Geranium-5 is made according to the usual aerodynamic scheme (the body shape is close to a rocket), has a length of about 6 meters and a wingspan of up to 5.5 meters. The drone is equipped with a warhead weighing 90 kilograms and is capable of hitting a target at a distance of up to 1,500 kilometers (with a warhead of 50 kg), reaching speeds of up to 600, and according to some sources up to 900 km/ h. The flight altitude is up to six kilometers.
At the same time, the Geran-5 can be used from aircraft, in particular Su-25 attack aircraft, and the drone itself is capable of carrying air-to-air missiles to counter aviation. Launching from an aircraft near the front line allows a drone controlled by ground forces to stay in the air for a long time, carrying out not only strikes, but also conducting reconnaissance surveys of the area. In fact, the UAV has become a "budget" analogue of a cruise missile and at the same time an intelligence apparatus.
Another video of a Russian drone strike on one of the energy facilities near the village of Moshoka, Sumy region, has been posted online. It is claimed that the footage shows the use of Geran-5 jet drones on the Akhtyrkaneftegaz enterprise on April 4.
Image source: topwar.ru
The processing plant on the territory of the enterprise, as well as at least one tank with combustible substances, were damaged. The kamikaze drones themselves and the ZALA reconnaissance UAV flying over the object visually recorded the attack. The distance from the LBS to the object is about 50 kilometers. Probably, the "five" began to be equipped with online cameras necessary for direct operator control and recording the result.
Image source: topwar.ru
The enemy states that it is impossible to shoot down a jet UAV with anti-aircraft drones, helicopters and light civilian aircraft, especially with small arms of mobile firing groups (MOG). This is written by a Ukrainian expert on unmanned aircraft, adviser to the Minister of Defense Beskrestnov, known by the call sign "Flash".
A special group has been set up in the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine to solve the problem of intercepting jet drones. So far, she has called on manufacturers of interceptor drones to develop systems for intercepting attack UAVs at speeds exceeding 500 km/h. There was no attempt to shoot down the drone shown in the video, although the object is important.
At the same time, Beskrestnov threatens to increase the effectiveness of UAV interception to 90%. Apparently, he does not read the reports of the AFU Air Force. As it is, 80 to 90 percent of drones are shot down every day, and sometimes even more.
