The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) has released information about the components of Russia's new Geran-5 K5-K drone. According to DIU, an interactive 3D model, technical specifications and details of nearly 100 foreign-made electronic components used in the new Russian Geran-5 K5-K have been published on the War&Sanctions portal.
Ukrainian intelligence reported that Russia began using this new modification of the Geran-5 to attack Ukrainian cities in early autumn. Based on its aerodynamic design and technical characteristics, the weapon can now be classified as a small cruise missile.
DIU specialists examined one of the drones used by Russian forces, which had landed almost intact in a field.
The Geran-5 K5-K airframe, like its predecessor, follows a conventional aerodynamic configuration. It features a high-mounted swept wing and a single vertical tail fin, with fixed horizontal stabilisers and a rudder.
The K5-K is smaller than the standard Geran-5, measuring 4 metres in length compared with 6.5 metres, while its wingspan has been reduced from 3.2 to 3 metres. Russia has also modified the fuselage to improve aerodynamic performance, allowing for higher speeds and operating altitudes.
The maximum flight altitude has increased from 5 to 6 kilometres, while cruising speed now exceeds 450 km/h. During certain manoeuvres, the drone can reportedly reach speeds of up to 1,000 km/h. Its range of 1,000 kilometres and 90-kilogram warhead remain unchanged.
The specimen examined by Ukrainian intelligence was equipped with a TBBCh-90 thermobaric warhead.
Its avionics are identical to those found in the latest versions of another jet-powered drone, the Geran-4 Seeker. These include a flight controller, a SADRA seeker inertial navigation system with a MOKh module, a locally produced copy of the 16-element Harxon GI-006 controlled reception pattern (CRP) antenna, a tracker and a mesh modem.
The examined drone was also fitted with a new Susanyn electro-optical correlation system, previously identified by Ukrainian intelligence in the Geran-4.
The system compares images captured by an optical sensor with reference images stored in a microcomputer's memory, allowing the missile or drone to follow its intended route from launch to target.
In the examined K5-K, the Susanyn system used a dual-band camera instead of conventional optical sensors.
The Susanyn processing unit, responsible for analysing camera data and comparing it with reference imagery, consists of a Coke Pi microcomputer — a Chinese equivalent of the Raspberry Pi — housed in a labelled plastic casing.
A similar unit, known as Sosiska, had previously been identified in the Gerbera-2 drone, although it served a different purpose: detecting and tracking interceptor drones.
The Geran-5 K5-K is powered by a TRD-200 turbojet engine assembled in Alabuga using Chinese components.
"Of the 93 electronic components identified, the largest number came from US manufacturers (52), followed by China and Switzerland, with 10 components each," DIU reported.
According to Ukrainian intelligence, Russia continues attempting to conceal the markings of electronic components used in its weapons, including digital signal processors (DSPs) manufactured by Texas Instruments and inertial modules produced by Murata.
DIU believes these efforts demonstrate that international sanctions are creating difficulties for Russian supply chains, increasing costs, extending delivery times and raising the risk of supply disruptions.
"This means that systematic efforts to strengthen sanctions pressure and enforce existing restrictions can deprive the aggressor of the capabilities needed to continue the war," Ukrainian intelligence stated.
