Analysis of Russia's Geran-4 Drone Technology

This is Russia's Geran-4, a new faster version of the attack drone that is proving harder for Ukrainian air defenses to intercept. We were given a rare opportunity to literally take this surviving drone apart and find out what makes it so much faster, more maneuverable, and more accurate.

The first part we uncover is the turbojet engine. It is one of the Geran-4's most significant upgrades, allowing the drone to fly at altitudes of up to eight kilometers. That's twice as high as the older propeller-powered drones. According to specialists, drones equipped with this type of engine

have already flown from Russia's occupied Crimea to Lutsk in northwestern Ukraine, a distance of more than 700 kilometers. This engine allows it to fly at speeds of up to 450 to 500 kilometers per hour over Ukrainian territory, sometimes even

faster. It flies fast and high, which is why it is still difficult to intercept. Who makes this engine? China. But we have investigated cases where these engines were

assembled in Russia using Chinese components. Next comes the camera. It has several modes: daylight, night vision, and infrared. The camera offers 10 times optical zoom and up to 32 times digital zoom, allowing the drone operator to view

terrain from an altitude of eight kilometers. If there is a relay station and it is connected to the network, an operator sitting in an automated workstation somewhere in Bryansk, Oryol, or Crimea can control the drone and guide it to its

target. Once the drone is inside Ukraine, regular cellular SIM cards can help keep it connected. We also found two GSM modems inside this drone. Using SIM cards, they can transmit the Geran-4's location

over mobile networks, allowing the operator to track it in real time. This is where the SIM card goes. Drone specialists say they have found SIM cards from Ukraine,

Russia, Belarus, and even some European Union countries in Geran-4 drones, and the deeper we go inside the drone, the more foreign-made components we find. We've just pulled out a Chinese mesh modem.

It's responsible, among other things, for radio and video communications. Essentially, this device allows the drone operator to see the video feed from the Geran-4 almost in real time. The modem has a range of up to 300 kilometers and can also act as a signal relay. That means several drones flying

near each other can relay and strengthen the signal, making it possible to control them over much greater distances. But this Russian drone contains more than just Chinese components. Despite international sanctions, a significant portion of its components are still coming from abroad, highlighting gaps in global export control

enforcement. We've just opened up the drone's onboard computer, and these circuit boards contain components made by a US company. The markings on this component are partly worn off, but you can still see the manufacturer, Texas Instruments.

According to the specialists, what is actually Russian-made here is mainly the drone's body and its assembly. This particular drone was manufactured and assembled at Alabuga, a major Russian drone production site. According to Ukraine's military intelligence, Russia is now producing

around 3,000 Geran-4 and Geran-5 drones a month at Alabuga and other facilities across Russia.