Iran has asked Russia to supply advanced versions of the Geran attack drones, which Moscow developed using technology from Iranian-made Shahed drones. Tehran plans to deploy them in its war against Israel and the United States, the Financial Times reported, citing Western security officials and a source close to the Kremlin.
In recent years, Russia has significantly upgraded the technology it received from Iran. While the Geran-1 can carry up to 20 kilograms of explosives and reach a speed of about 185 kilometers per hour, the jet-powered Geran-5 can fly at speeds of up to 600 kilometers per hour, travel up to 1,000 kilometers and carry a warhead weighing up to 90 kilograms. According to available information, Russia first used this model in January 2026.
The drones’ design has also changed. The Geran-4 received a more aerodynamic airframe, while the Geran-5 increasingly resembles a cruise missile.
The newer versions are also reportedly equipped with thermal imaging cameras and AI-powered guidance systems. This makes them more difficult to detect and intercept than the earlier models that Russia began mass-producing in 2023.
Russian forces are already using jet-powered drones in attacks on Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy previously said Ukraine still lacks sufficient means to destroy them, although more than 60 Ukrainian companies are developing solutions to counter the threat.
Russia has recently begun using these drones as part of a new tactic targeting Odesa. Individual jet-powered drones can maneuver over the city and surrounding region for extended periods, repeatedly changing direction and moving from one district to another. Such flights exhaust air defense units, disrupt daily life and keep residents in fear for hours.
