During the May 9 Victory Day parade in Moscow, Russia showcased its new drone missile, the ‘Geran-5,’ which has already been deployed in attacks against Ukraine.
Analysts suggest that footage of the missile likely originated from a launch site in the Oryol region. The ‘Geran-5’ has drawn comparisons to Ukraine’s FP-5 ‘Flamingo’ and Germany’s ‘V-1’ flying bomb.
However, the Russian missile is smaller, with a significantly lighter warhead of 90 kg compared to the 1-ton payload of the FP-5, and it boasts a range of only 1,000 km, which is three times less than its Ukrainian counterpart.
Experts note that the ‘Geran-5’ appears to be a derivative of Iranian technology, particularly inspired by the Karrar drone, incorporating similar wing designs albeit with modifications. The Iranian Karrar itself is considered a copy of the American MQM-107 Streaker target drone.
The ‘Geran-5’ is equipped with an air-to-air missile, specifically the R-73. With a jet engine allowing speeds of up to 600 km/h, it poses a potential threat, particularly if mass-produced, as it could overwhelm air defense systems.
This new Russian missile has been designed with components that are highly standardized with other models in its line, utilizing both Chinese parts, including its engine, and components from Western countries, such as the U.S. and Germany. For navigation, the missile features a ‘Kometa’ antenna, which was recently targeted by Ukrainian defense forces in an attack on the VNIIR-Progress factory producing this component.
In response, Oleksandr Kamyshin, an advisor to the President of Ukraine and former head of the Ministry of Strategic Industries, stated that the ‘Geran-5’ represents an attempt by Russia to replicate the Ukrainian FP-5 ‘Flamingo.’ He emphasized that the Russian design falls short in performance compared to its Ukrainian counterpart.
Kamyshin noted that the similarities in appearance between the ‘Geran-5’ and the FP-5 stem from Russia’s efforts to imitate the Ukrainian development. He highlighted that the Russian drone has approximately ten times less range and a smaller warhead than the ‘Flamingo.’ According to his assessment, the capabilities of the ‘Geran-5’ are positioned between Ukraine’s drone missiles ‘Hell’ and ‘Palyanytsia.’
He concluded by remarking that five years into the ongoing war, the parade showcased nothing but a poor imitation of Ukraine’s drone technology.
Russia's unveiling of the 'Geran-5' drone missile during the Victory Day parade has sparked comparisons with Ukraine's FP-5 'Flamingo.' Experts point out significant performance gaps between the two, highlighting Russia's reliance on foreign technology.