Iran seeks Russia's upgraded Geran drones as Moscow transforms Shaheds into deadlier weapons - FT
Iran has asked Russia to supply advanced versions of the attack drones Moscow originally developed from Iranian Shaheds, as years of battlefield use in Ukraine have transformed them into faster and more powerful weapons, the Financial Times reports.
Tehran sought the upgraded Geran drones this year for use in its war with Israel and the United States, according to Western security officials and a person close to the Kremlin.
Russia began producing Geran drones in 2023 based on the Iranian-designed Shahed. Since then, Moscow has repeatedly modified the weapons while using them extensively against Ukraine.
The first-generation Geran-1 carried a warhead of up to 20 kilograms (44 pounds) and could reach speeds of about 185 km/h (115 mph). The jet-powered Geran-5, first reported in use in January 2026, can carry a 90-kilogram (198-pound) warhead at speeds of up to 600 km/h (373 mph) over a range of 1,000 kilometers (621 miles).
Newer variants have also been equipped with thermal cameras, AI-powered targeting systems, Russian anti-jamming antennas and Chinese mesh-network modems.
The improvements are already making the drones considerably harder for Ukraine to intercept. Air Force spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat told the FT that Ukraine is shooting down about 60% of the jet-powered drones, compared with 90–95% of older variants.
Russia's mass production system has allowed changes to be tested directly on the battlefield and quickly incorporated into new drones, experts told the FT.
Military analyst Konrad Muzyka described the process as the “cruise-ification” of Russian drones, with their growing speed and altitude increasingly blurring the distinction between an attack drone and a cruise missile.
Ukraine is developing new ways to counter the threat. The Wild Hornets group is finalizing a new interceptor designed for jet-powered drones, while President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said 67 Ukrainian companies are working on systems capable of shooting down the new Gerans.
Fabian Hoffmann of the Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies warned that Russia could “quickly emerge as the world's largest low-cost cruise missile manufacturer” if it maintains its production pace and access to foreign propulsion technology.