Military sources report that Russia has begun using an upgraded version of its long-range strike drone, the “Gran-5,” which has been equipped with a “JT80” jet engine from the Chinese company Telefly. This update gives the drone greater speed and an improved ability to evade Ukrainian air defenses.
The drone is about six meters long, with a wingspan of 5.5 meters, and weighs about 200 kilograms. Its new aerodynamic design is similar to the Iranian “Karrar” drone. Initial estimates suggest that the drone’s effective flight range is about 1000 kilometers.
The Russian army is also studying the possibility of launching this drone from the air using “Su-25” aircraft, which could double its operational range and make it more difficult to intercept, especially when used in coordinated attacks. The drone’s systems include a combination of Russian and Iranian technologies, including the “Kometa” satellite navigation system and a tracking unit based on a “Raspberry Pi” computer.
Some reports suggest that the possibility of equipping the drone with short-range “R-73” missiles for self-defense is being studied, which represents an unprecedented development for Russian strike drones.
Ukrainian intelligence is currently conducting a thorough examination of the recovered parts of the drone, and a detailed technical report on its design and systems is expected to be published soon.
