Full Breakdown
Iran Seeks Russia’s New Geran-4 and Geran-5 Drones Amid Ongoing Conflict
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Request for Advanced Russian Drones
According to a Financial Times report cited by the Jerusalem Post, Tehran asked Moscow earlier this year for delivery of the latest Geran-4 and Geran-5 unmanned systems. The request came amid the broader Israeli–U.S. war with Iran and followed “substantial improvements” to Russia’s Geran family, as described by Western security officials and a source close to the Kremlin.
Technical Enhancements Over Earlier Models
The Financial Times notes that the original Geran, first produced in 2023, was based on Iran’s Shahed design. The newer Geran-4 and Geran-5 are jet-powered, with the Geran-4 offering a more aerodynamic airframe and the Geran-5 resembling a cruise missile. Reported specifications include:
- Geran-4 – 20 kg warhead, top speed 185 km/h, longer range than first-generation models.
- Geran-5 – 90 kg warhead, top speed 600 km/h, equipped with thermal vision, AI-driven targeting, Russian anti-jamming antennas, and Chinese mesh-radio modems.
Pro-Kremlin media added that the Geran-5 can be launched from Sukhoi-25 fighter jets, which Iran purchased in 2025.
Recent Combat Use in Kyiv
Smoke was observed over Kyiv after a Geran-5 strike hit an office building near the railway station on September 10, 2026. The incident, documented by the Jerusalem Post, illustrates the drones’ heightened destructive capacity and their deployment in the Ukraine-Russia war.
Official Reactions and Allegations
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky alleged that Iran has used Russian-made Shahed drones against U.S. and Israeli targets, calling the claim “100 % facts” in an interview with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria. The Financial Times report does not verify this allegation but notes the broader context of Iranian-Russian drone cooperation.
Strategic Implications
The request for Geran-4 and Geran-5 drones signals Tehran’s interest in acquiring higher-speed, AI-guided UAVs capable of evading modern air defenses. If delivered, these systems could enhance Iran’s strike options and deepen its military partnership with Russia, while also raising concerns among Western security analysts about the diffusion of advanced drone technology in regional conflicts.