Ukraine's Defense Intelligence specialists analyzed the components of the russian Geran-3 (Shahed) drone, first sporadically spotted in June.
These drones belong to the У (U) series and, in terms of their layout and most components, do not differ from the Ы (Y) series. At the same time, the Geran-3 is equipped with cameras and video transmission systems, similar to the Ъ series. Navigation is provided by a 12-element CRPA antenna of the Kometa-M satellite navigation system.
Read more: Ukrainian Forces Can Now Down Jet-Engine Shahed Drones
The Geran-3 has a flight range of up to 1,000 km and a speed of 300 km/h, 1.6 times faster than the propeller-driven Shahed. The drone reaches its maximum speed of 370 km/h when passing through Ukrainian air defense zones, electronic warfare zones, and immediately before an attack.
From Defense Express we would like to note that this feature, combined with the data link to the operator, could enable controlled flight in the cruise phase.
The main feature of the jet-powered Shahed is its Chinese-made turbojet engine. It is a Telefly JT80, which is freely available on the civilian market. The current retail price ranges from $30,000 to $35,000.
Similarly, the Bosch fuel pump, produced in the Czech Republic for civilian use, can be easily bought on the civilian market.
Like most other foreign-made components, these may consist of microchips sourced from the U.S., the UK, and other countries. For instance, the Raspberry Pi 4 single-board mini-computer is used extensively and on a permanent basis in drones.
In terms of cost, the Geran-3 is comparable to the Geran-2 of the Ы or Ъ series, aside from the engine and part of the fuel system, totaling several tens of thousands of dollars. At the same time, the actual production capabilities of such drones will depend on the availability of Chinese engines and the pace of their supply and manufacturing.
Read more: Million-Dollar Missiles vs Thousand-Dollar Drones: Poland Seeks Cheaper Air Defense Options Against Drone Threats
