Among the fragmented remains of the downed drone, visually resembling a Shahed, investigators discovered components indicating a connection to the Geran-3. The Defense Intelligence of Ukraine had previously warned about the development of such a drone in russia.
This may explain why some Kyiv residents reported hearing an unusual whistling sound during the attack. Unlike propeller-driven Shaheds, this sound is more consistent with a jet engine. The drone was shot down and burned, but investigators recovered a compact jet engine from the wreckage, confirming the presence of a jet-powered system.
Read more: Ukrainian Intelligence Says russia's Setting Up Production of Shahed-238 Analog: What Could Counter the Geran-3 Killer Jet Drone
Due to the heavy fragmentation of the airframe, it remains unclear whether the drone was an actual Shahed-238, first presented in Iran in November 2023, or another long-range jet-powered system. Its shape and components suggest it belongs to the Shahed family or is a locally assembled derivative.
One key component found at the crash site was an avionics control panel used to load flight plans, start the engine, and operate onboard systems. Its design closely matches panels from the original Shahed-136, indicating shared architecture.
This strongly suggests the drone was either an authentic Shahed-238 or a russian-built version using Iranian components or blueprints. At the very least, the avionics and programming systems reflect Iranian origin.
In January 2024, a similar incident involving a suspected jet-powered Shahed-type drone occurred. Although wreckage included a jet engine and a distinct avionics unit, the Ukrainian Air Force was unable to confirm the use of such a system at the time. Notably, that avionics panel differed from the ones seen in earlier Shahed-136 drones and from the one used in the recent attack.
While Iran may have revised the Shahed-238 configuration to standardize parts, current evidence points more clearly toward a russian-built variant. This supports a February 2025 warning from Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence that russia was preparing to manufacture its own version of the jet-powered kamikaze drone under the name Geran-3.
According to Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence, the Geran-3 has a top speed of approximately 550 to 600 km/h and is powered by the Iranian Tolou-10 or Tolou-13 engine — an unlicensed copy of the Czech PBS TJ100.
Defense Express notes that analysis of the debris is ongoing. Further examination will help confirm whether the drone used in the Kyiv attack was indeed a Geran-3.
Read more: AI, 4G Modems, Telegram: What’s Really Inside Upgraded Shaheds?
