Geran-3

Geran-3 overview

The Geran-3 is a Russian turbojet-powered one-way attack drone derived from the Shahed/Geran family. Ukrainian intelligence disclosed its airframe and component architecture in 2025 after examples began appearing in the war. Although it preserves the expendable deep-strike logic of the Geran-2, the compact jet engine enables a much faster terminal and transit profile, making acoustic warning less useful and reducing the time available for gun teams or interceptor drones to react.

Public reporting indicates that Geran-3 uses a mixture of imported and Russian components, with navigation and communications arrangements intended to tolerate electronic warfare. Estimates for speed, range, ceiling, and warhead size vary because analysts have examined different debris and possible production series. The design continued to be assessed and used experimentally through 2026.

DroneStrike therefore records broad reported ranges rather than selecting a single unsupported number, and treats the aircraft as an evolving combat system rather than a fully standardized model. Its significance is the pressure it places on defenses that were designed around the slower flight profile of earlier Geran aircraft.

Armament

Integral high-explosive or fragmentation warhead; exact configuration not publicly confirmed

Development and operational timeline

1. Jul 2025Jet-powered Geran-family aircraft begin appearing in Ukrainian reporting and recovered-component analysis
2. Sep 2025Ukraine releases a detailed assessment of the Series U Geran-3 turbojet-powered one-way aircraft
3. Jan 2026Analysts distinguish Geran-3 from the larger Geran-5 as Russia expands its jet-powered attack-drone family
4. Jun 2026Open-source assessments describe continued experimental combat employment over Ukraine