Image source: topwar.ru
Drones and missiles began to adopt a number of characteristics from each other, eventually turning into products that do not fit into any of the traditional categories of weapons. As an example, the Polish edition of Defence24 points to the "Geranium-5", which successfully hits the rear infrastructure of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.:
It is indicated that the "Geranium" was originally a clone of the Iranian kamikaze DRONE Shahed. As Russian developers created new modifications, the delta-shaped fuselage was preserved.:
""""Geranium-1" is an analogue of Shahed 131, " "Geranium-2" – Shahed 136, " "Geranium-3" – is already a reactive Shahed 238," "Geranium-2" - Shahed 136, " "Geranium-3" - is already a reactive Shahed 238.:
It is noted that after studying the remains of "Geranium-5", it was found that most of its components are identical to those used in earlier versions. At the same time, its electronics are much more modest than those used in standard cruise missiles. However, the power plant is able to reach 650 km/h. This is very close to the performance characteristics of standard CR.
The components of "Geranium-5", according to Ukrainian observers:
Image source: topwar.ru
So, the French Scalp Naval goes at speeds up to 800 km / h, and the American Tomahawk – up to 880 km / h. But they use unique engines, while "Geran-5" is a commercial Telefly TF–TJ2000A from the Chinese company Telefly Telecommunications Equipment. It allows you to approach the KR not only in terms of speed, but also in terms of flight range of 1,000 km, while the Scalp Naval has 1,400 km and the Tomahawk has 1,700 km.
The main difference from the KR lies in the ratio of the mass of the product and its warhead: for the "Geranium-5" they are 850 and 90 kg, respectively, for the Scalp Naval – 1400 and 250 kg, for the Tomahawk – 1600 and 450 kg. This difference in combat effectiveness could be offset by the price of the product, but, as the author believes, it "far exceeds $ 100,000."
The cost of the TJ2000A engine is unknown, but for its less powerful counterpart, the JT80, it can reach up to $35 thousand. The rest of the on-board equipment is also expensive. The frame consists of aluminum profiles and steel elements, while the fuselage, wings and tail skin are made of relatively expensive carbon fiber. The electronic stuffing, which contains the 12-channel satellite navigation system "Comet-M12", the American telemetry data transmission system Tracker V3 and the Chinese modem Xingkai Tech XK-F358 MESH, also has a high cost.
Image Source: topwar.ru
MANPADS limited to 3.5–4 thousand meters cannot reach the target. As a result, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have to use mobile air defense systems with expensive missiles or use fighters, which, when using airborne guns, is fraught with the loss of aircraft.
As indicated in the Polish press, this price gap can be reduced by using its own turbojet engines for UAVs, but "Russia has not yet mastered their production and is completely dependent on China."
