The aggressor state has equipped its “Geran-4” jet-powered strike drones with an optical terrain-following system, an American magnetometer, and a warhead designed to cut through infrastructure support structures.

According to the Defense Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, this was reported as relayed by Dengi.ua.

What Navigation Capabilities Did Russian Drones Receive?

The upgraded strike drones, which the Russian military began deploying in the fall of 2026, have been equipped with additional autonomous flight capabilities that allow them to bypass areas where electronic warfare systems are suppressing satellite signals.

According to military intelligence, the modernization includes the following technical solutions:

  • an American magnetometer: the “MOH” unit is equipped with a high-precision PNI5GA sensor from PNI Sensor (U.S.), which works in conjunction with the SADRA module to stabilize gyroscopes and reduce course errors;
  • the “Susannin” system: an optoelectronic correlation system that compares images from the onboard camera with reference maps along the route;
  • model standardization: the adversary has also integrated a similar optical recognition module into the K5 version of the “Geran-5”;
  • standard circuit boards: the rest of the electronic components and microchips remain largely unchanged and are identical to those in previous series.

What Purposes Was the New Warhead Developed For?

Design changes affected both the UAV’s power unit and its strike equipment, which has been optimized for the destruction of critical energy and transportation infrastructure.

Key factors in the design update:

  • shaped-charge cutting warhead: the drone was equipped with a special KRSN warhead, whose cumulative jet is designed to cut cables, bridge supports, and metal structures of high-voltage power lines;
  • engine replacement: instead of Chinese Telefly turbojet engines, the enemy has begun installing power units of its own manufacture, the production of which has been established in the Alabuga Special Economic Zone;
  • autonomous flight: a combination of satellite channels, a magnetometer, and optical terrain scanning enables the drone to home in on its target without constant external radio communication.