Russia mass-produces "Geranium-4" jet drone: Ukrainian intelligence warns of new threat

The Defence Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine exposed the design of the new Russian jet-powered attack drone. The details were shared on its official Facebook page.

Developed to counter Ukrainian drone interceptors

On its War&Sanctions portal, The Defence Intelligence published the interactive 3D model, internal components, and foreign-made parts list of the Russian "Geranium-4." The aggressor state introduced this jet-powered strike drone as a direct countermeasure to bypass Ukraine's highly effective interceptor UAVs.

As part of the final push for mass production (completed by January 2026), initial test launches were conducted from the Primorsk drone launch site in the Oryol region, as well as from the territory of the former Donetsk Airport.

By May 2026, Russian forces initiated the combat deployment of these drones to strike Ukrainian territory.

To build earlier jet-powered versions, such as the "Geranium-3," the enemy repurposed the airframe of the gasoline-powered "Geranium-2." However, combat experience proved that the old frame lacked the structural integrity required for high-speed flight, let alone high-G maneuvers.

The new "Geranium-4" features a custom-built airframe with optimized aerodynamics, a reinforced structure, and a higher-thrust turbojet engine. The wings are now permanently integrated into the center wing section, and the number of maintenance hatches on the fuselage has been reduced to minimize aerodynamic drag.

Two types of Chinese-made turbojet engines have been identified in the "Geranium-4": the discontinued Telefly LX-WP-160 engine with 160 kgf of thrust, and the Telefly TF-TJ2000A engine, previously seen in the “Geranium-5” drone, with 200 kgf of thrust.

The upgraded airframe allows the "Geranium-4" to perform active maneuvers at speeds between 300 and 400 km/h, while its reinforced chassis withstands extreme overloads.

This allows the "Geranium-4" to reach speeds of up to 500 km/h and altitudes of up to 5,000 meters. The UAV can deliver a 50 kg high-explosive fragmentation/thermobaric warhead (OFZBCh-50/TBBCh-50M) or an enlarged 90 kg thermobaric warhead (TBBCh-90) to a range of up to 450 kilometers.

The onboard control system and electronic component base remain identical to previous UAV models manufactured by JSC SEZ PPT Alabuga. The physical dimensions of the new airframe match standard specifications, measuring 3.5 meters in length with a 3-meter wingspan.

By exposing these latest Russian-Iranian developments, Ukraine's Military Intelligence reiterates: terror knows no borders. Global stability can only be restored by cutting off Russia's access to the foreign technologies the aggressor relies on to wage its criminal war.