After russia's attack on Poland with Gerbera drones and the appearance of unknown drones over airports in Norway and Denmark, one pressing question arises: how far can russian long-range UAVs reach?
To answer this question, it is important to recall the flight range of the russian Shahed/Geran-2 drones. According to data from the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, the flight range of the Geran-2 is 1,800-2,500 km. As for the launch areas, some of russia's infrastructure used for attacks on Ukraine could effectively target NATO countries in Europe.
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For instance, launch sites exist in the Chauda Cape area in temporarily occupied Crimea and near Bryansk. Another strategically advantageous area is St. Petersburg, which is considered ideal for a launch site due to its accessibility and logistics.
Considering drone launches from these sites, the Shahed drones' range of up to 1,800 km allows them to strike all Scandinavian countries, the Netherlands, most of Germany, and southern Italy. The Geran-2, with a range of up to 2,500 km, is capable of striking all of Great Britain, Italy, and the majority of France.
It is worth noting that setting up new drone launch sites in russia requires only a few months. If necessary, new launch sites could quickly be established, such as at the Osovcy Airbase in the Brest region of Belarus. The possibility of launches from Kaliningrad should also not be ruled out.
Technically, this extends the range by 700 km, enabling the following possibilities:
With a range of 2,500 km, russian Shahed drones could target almost all of Europe, including Madrid and a large part of Spain. In other words, all European capitals are within reach except Lisbon, Portugal.
It should be noted that these are the drones' maximum flight ranges, and russia launches them along complex routes to bypass Ukrainian air defenses. However, repelling the russian attack in Poland revealed gaps in air defense on NATO's eastern flank.
After breaking through the first air defense echelon at the border, Shahed drones can operate freely, and the means available to European countries to counter them are currently hundreds of times more expensive.
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