According to Mash news site, the Ukrainian military is using electronic components captured from the Russian Geran-2 suicide unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to build their own suicide drones. One of these Ukrainian aircraft was recently intercepted by Russian air defenses.
Also according to Mash, from the wreckage of the downed Ukrainian UAV, Russian security discovered the electronic guidance blocks of Geran-2. The design of the Ukrainian suicide UAV seems much simpler than the Geran-2, but it is equipped with two fan engines to increase its operating range.
The guidance system currently used by Russia on Geran-2 is called Kometa (Comet), it is usually placed on the wing of the UAV because if the aircraft is intercepted or loses control, it will most likely be less damaged.
Russian Geran-2 suicide drone. (Photo: RT)
Kometa guides Geran-2 based on the Russian-developed GLONASS satellite navigation system, so it is not subject to the same limitations as the US GPS system.
Russia began using Geran-2 drones extensively in Ukraine last fall, carrying out long-range strikes deep into Ukrainian territory.
Geran-2 is not only effective in attack, but also much cheaper to build and deploy than modern missiles. The cost of a Russian suicide UAV does not exceed $18,000 to $20,000, so the drone is much cheaper than any cruise missile.
The plastic/composite airframe reduces radar visibility, and the piston engine generates insufficient heat for infrared detection and targeting by low-altitude air defense weapons. Despite using a small propeller engine, the UAV can still reach speeds of 220-250 km/h and a flight range of more than 2,000-2,500 km.
Geran-2 carries a high-explosive warhead weighing tens of kilograms. In addition, according to foreign sources, the latest series of UAVs have used fragmentation warheads to increase the weapon's attack capability.
Kiev and its Western allies have repeatedly asserted that the drones are indeed of Iranian origin, pointing to striking similarities between the Geran-2 and the Shahed-136. However, the West has no solid evidence to back up these claims.
While both Moscow and Tehran have repeatedly denied that the drones were supplied to Russia by Iran, Tehran has admitted that it sent a drone model to Russia several months before the conflict broke out in February 2022.
Tra Khanh (Source: russian.rt.com)
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