Development paths of the Geranium-2 UAV
Geranium-2 over Ukraine. Photo AFP
One of the main innovations of the current Special Operation to Protect Donbass is the Geran-2 strike unmanned aerial vehicles. They were first used in the fall of 2022, and since then such UAVs have regularly carried out group strikes on enemy targets. In parallel with combat use, the development process is underway dronesTheir equipment is being improved, individual elements are being replaced, and completely new solutions are being introduced.
Secret and obvious
The Russian Defense Ministry regularly reports on the use of Geran-2 UAVs against targets in Ukraine. However, for more than two years, the agency has not disclosed any official information about these drones. The origin of such equipment, its exact characteristics, combat capabilities, etc. remain unknown.
Due to the lack of official data, various rumors and versions appear and are spread, and not always inspiring confidence. In the context of "Geran", there are rumors and versions of varying degrees of plausibility, as well as numerous assessments based on the similarity of Russian UAVs and Iranian "Shahed-136" products.
In early February 2024, data on the production and development of the Geranium UAV, allegedly stolen by hackers from one of the Iranian companies involved in the production, appeared in the public domain. These files contained very interesting data that confirmed previously published information. In addition, this information was confirmed in later the news.
Attack drone wreckage is valuable intelligence material. Photo by US DIA
Interestingly, Ukraine has become one of the sources of information about the Geraniums. Local special services and armed formations have access to the affected targets and are searching for the wreckage of attack UAVs. They analyze the items found and often demonstrate the most interesting of them. However, even studying the fallen drones does not help Ukrainian formations to fight them better.
General development
In its basic version, Geranium-2 is a tailless unmanned aerial vehicle with a delta wing and a rudimentary fuselage. The tail contains an internal combustion engine with a pusher propeller. The maximum possible part of the internal volume is given over to fuel.
Initially, the Geran-2 UAV had an autopilot with satellite and inertial navigation, capable of guiding it along a given route. A high-explosive warhead weighing, according to various sources, up to 50 kg was delivered to the designated target.
For obvious reasons, the enemy was most interested in the onboard electronics of Russian drones. When searching for and studying the wreckage, the main focus was on the devices, boards and components. Thanks to such activities of Ukrainian specialists, one of the development paths of the Geraniums became known.
Iranian Shahed series UAVs with different capabilities. Still from Iranian TV report
It was reported that imported components were widely used in the electronics of the first series of drones. However, over time, their share decreased. Such import substitution can be associated with the need to reduce dependence on foreign contractors, as well as with the desire to issue additional orders to the Russian industry.
The electronics were also upgraded to improve technical and operational characteristics. For example, no later than 2023, serial UAVs began to be equipped with the Kometa satellite navigation module. It is made on a domestic element base and has improved protection against suppression by electronic warfare forces.
The first series of Gerani-2 were fully autonomous. However, in 2023, the enemy discovered the first drones with onboard communications. Existing cellular networks were used to exchange data. It is not known for certain how exactly such communication is used. There were versions about a two-way channel that allows telemetry to be transmitted to the control station and operator commands to be received.
Homing head
Since 2022, various estimates and forecasts have talked about the possibility of equipping the Geraniums with full-fledged homing heads. It is quite possible that by this time, such a modification of the UAV was already being developed. However, it became known about it only this year from data allegedly obtained by hackers.
Modification of the UAV with an optical-electronic homing head. Telegram graphics / "Military informant"
Iranian documents mentioned a project with the index MC-236. This designation concealed a variant of an attack UAV with a nose-mounted optical-electronic station. Using a standard video camera or thermal imager, such a drone can search for ground or surface targets and then home in on them. The estimated accuracy of hitting reaches 3 m.
Over the next few months, no new information about the UAV with the OES was received. However, in mid-September, extremely interesting news appeared. Then, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the Special Technology Center in St. Petersburg and inspected its modern developments in the field of unmanned aerial vehicles. aviation. The Geranium, with its distinctive transparent nose cone, similar to the Iranian MC-236, was publicly displayed for the first time at a small exhibition.
It should be noted that since then, the Geranium-2 with the OES has not appeared anywhere. However, the first information about such a UAV appeared quite a long time ago, and it can be expected that the project is moving forward and is approaching the launch of production.
Jet variant
In its basic configuration, the Geranium-2 is equipped with a piston engine of an unknown type. It is assumed that this product is of Iranian origin and is a copy of one of the European developments. However, there is no exact information on this matter.
Jet modification of the product. Telegram graphics / "Military informant"
The piston engine and pusher propeller allow the drone to reach speeds of about 180-200 km/h and provide a flight range of at least 1-1,5 thousand km. These characteristics correspond to the tasks set, but there is potential for their further improvement.
Earlier, Iran developed a version of a similar UAV with a compact turbojet engine. It is assumed that the product designated M-237 can reach speeds of up to 550-600 km/h and maintains a high flight range.
It is not yet known whether the Russian Geran-2 is planned to be developed on the same principle. However, it can be assumed that such a modification of the attack drone would be useful for the Russian army and could be used in the Special Operation. It is quite possible that such a drone is already being developed and is being prepared for production.
Combat load
Initially, the Geranium-2 carried a high-explosive fragmentation warhead weighing 50 kg. This charge allows for the destruction of various stationary targets, such as command posts, manpower deployment sites, infrastructure facilities, etc. High guidance accuracy and the ability to use UAVs in groups allows for increased impact on the target and guarantees its incapacitation.
One of the alternative warhead variants. Telegram graphics / "Military informant"
It is known from the reports of the Ukrainian side that some "Geran" missiles receive a thermobaric warhead. With dimensions and weight at the level of a standard high-explosive fragmentation charge, such a product has a different effect and is capable of solving other problems.
The hackers' documents also mentioned other combat equipment options. In particular, it is possible to install a cumulative warhead, either independently or in combination with other charges. This type of combat load improves the UAV's performance when hitting protected and fortified targets.
High performance
The Geran-2 strike UAVs have been used as part of the current Special Operation for the past two years and regularly strike various enemy targets. At the same time, serial production of such equipment is accompanied by its constant refinement and improvement.
According to available information, since 2022, almost all systems and components of the basic UAV have undergone some kind of modification or have been replaced. This has resulted in the emergence of a number of modifications of the Geranium, differing in technical characteristics and combat capabilities. Some of these modifications have already been launched into serial production and are successfully used in massive strikes. It can be assumed that these processes will continue, and the Russian industry will create new versions of the UAV.
Thus, over the past time, the Geran-2 UAV has proven itself as a successful means for long-range strikes, and has also demonstrated its potential as an air platform. It can be assumed that the potential of such a platform has not yet been fully utilized. This means that new versions of the strike UAV with new capabilities may appear in the very near future.
Information