Russia’s Geran-5 Long-Range Drone Based on Iranian Technology, Analysts Say

Russia’s new long-range strike drone, known as the Geran-5, appears to have been developed not only with the use of Chinese components but also through close technological cooperation with Iran, according to available technical assessments.

According to Defense Express on January 19, the design shows clear similarities to Iran’s Karrar unmanned aerial vehicle, with open-source analysis indicating that the Geran-5 is either directly based on the Karrar platform or represents a significantly modified version of it.

The two systems share comparable weight characteristics, with the Geran-5 estimated to have a takeoff weight of about 850 kilograms, compared with roughly 700 kilograms for the Karrar. Both drones are built as low-wing aircraft with a turbojet engine mounted above the fuselage and feature a distinctive twin-fin tail configuration.

At the same time, several differences have been identified. The Geran-5 uses a straight wing of a different shape, and its engine is smaller and mounted above the fuselage rather than in the rear, as on the Karrar. Despite these changes, the overall aerodynamic concept of the two platforms remains closely aligned.

The Iranian Karrar itself is not considered an entirely original design, Defense Express reported. Following its public unveiling in 2010, analysts noted strong similarities with the US-made MQM-107 Streaker target drone, developed by Beechcraft in 1974. These systems were legally delivered to Iran prior to the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

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Another possible influence cited by experts is the South African Skua target drone produced by Denel Dynamics, the outlet reported. Although the company has denied any cooperation with Iran, it has acknowledged that Iranian engineers could have replicated certain aerodynamic features after seeing the design at exhibitions or in publicly available materials.

Earlier, Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) made public an in-depth technical analysis of Russia’s latest strike drone, known as the Geran-5, through materials published on the War&Sanctions platform.

In a statement, HUR said it had revealed the first images and preliminary details of the UAV earlier in January. The Geran-5 bears a strong visual resemblance to Iran’s Karrar drone, while most of its internal modules match components previously identified in other Geran models manufactured at Russia’s Alabuga facility. Intelligence officials also noted that Russian engineers are considering options to deploy the drone from a Su-25 ground-attack aircraft.

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