Defence Intelligence reveals inside look at «Geranium-3»: Shocking origin of components (photos)

Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defence has disclosed the inner workings of Russia’s jet-powered «Geranium-3» drone, series «U».

This was reported on the Defence Intelligence’s website.

As part of the new «Weapons of Destruction» series in the «Components in Weapons» section of the War&Sanctions portal, Defence Intelligence reveals secrets of Russia’s «Geranium-3» jet drone.

The «Geranium-3» drone is an analog of Iran’s Shahed-238 jet drone. The component base of the latter was already published in June 2024 alongside the launch of the Defence Intelligence’s War&Sanctions platform.

The Defence Intelligence released a 3D model, components, and foreign component base of the so-called «Russian localized version».

The «Geranium-3» series «U» uses a Chinese Telefly JT80 jet engine, enabling the drone to travel at speeds from 300 to 370 km/h, with an estimated operational range of up to 1,000 km.

The drone reaches its maximum speed of 370 km/h primarily in areas under Ukrainian air defense and electronic warfare systems, during engagements with interceptor drones, and at terminal flight stages when descending on targets.

The layout of modules and electronic units largely mirrors gasoline-powered «Geranium-2» series «Ы» drones, including a standard SADRA inertial navigation system, air pressure measurement unit (ADC), power distribution unit (PDU), and others.

To protect satellite navigation from electronic warfare, «Geranium-3» employs a jam-resistant satellite navigation system with a 12-element adaptive antenna array (CRPA), «Kometa-M12».

Of the 45 identified foreign components, half come from American manufacturers, eight from Chinese, seven from Swiss, three from German, two from British, and one from a Japanese producer.

Available data indicates that «Geranium-3» drones also feature a camera and video transmission system from the «Geranium-2» series «Ъ».

«Geranium-3» marks the eighth Russian weapon sample detailed in the «Weapons of Destruction» series. The «Components in Weapons» section of the War&Sanctions portal now lists over 5,000 foreign components identified in 177 weapon samples from Russia, the aggressor state, and its allies.