The Geran-3 is a Russian jet-powered Geran/Shahed-family one-way attack UAV described by Ukrainian intelligence and defense reporting as a localized analogue of Iran's Shahed-238. It trades the piston-engine Geran-2/Shahed-136 speed profile for a turbojet engine, Kometa-M12 satellite-navigation protection, and a faster terminal approach intended to reduce Ukrainian air-defense and interceptor-drone reaction time.
Russia has used Geran-3 jet-powered Shahed-type UAVs in the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War, with wreckage and strike reporting in June 2025, at least eight Geran-3 drones reported in a 30 July 2025 combined attack, and later Ukrainian reporting describing larger jet-powered Geran salvos and interceptor-drone engagements.
Role detailsThe open record for Geran-3 moved from isolated wreckage and intelligence warnings in mid-2025 to documented use in larger mixed Russian strike packages by late 2025. The evidence remains dependent on Ukrainian official, Ukrainian defense-media, and OSINT reporting rather than Russian disclosure.
| Date | Reported evidence | Reader-facing significance |
|---|---|---|
| June 2025 | Wreckage and Kyiv strike reporting identified a likely Geran-3 or closely related jet-powered Shahed-type UAV. | First public conflict-use evidence beyond production warnings. |
| 30 July 2025 | At least eight Geran-3 drones were reported in a combined Russian attack alongside piston Shaheds and decoys. | Shows transition from isolated appearances to organized strike-package use. |
| 16 September 2025 | DIU's War and Sanctions component page listed Geran-3 series U hardware including the Telefly JT80 turbojet and Kometa navigation equipment. | Provides component-level support for the jet-powered Geran-3 identity and specification set. |
| 30 November 2025 | Ukrainian reporting described Sting interceptor-drone engagements and cited 138 Geran-3 drones launched in the attack. | Shows the air-defense problem had expanded into the interceptor-drone layer. |
Public reporting treats Geran-3 as the first Russian jet-powered analogue in the Shahed/Geran strike-drone family, distinct from the piston-engine Geran-2 and followed by faster or more missile-like Geran-4 and Geran-5 variants.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
 | Piston-engine predecessor family | Geran-3 is described as a faster jet-powered development in the same Geran/Shahed strike-drone family rather than the piston-engine Geran-2/Shahed-136 configuration. Sources: Ukrainska Pravda Jet-Powered Shahed Analysis, Covert Shores Russian Geran Guide |
| Shahed-238 | Iranian jet-powered analogue | Ukrainian intelligence and defense reporting describe Geran-3 as Russia's localized analogue of the Iranian Shahed-238 jet-powered strike UAV. Sources: DIU War and Sanctions Geran-3, Ukrainska Pravda Geran-3 Components, Euromaidan Press Geran-3 Kyiv Report |
| Geran-4 | Faster jet-powered Geran-family variant | Ukrainska Pravda describes Geran-4 as a more powerful, more aerodynamic jet-powered Geran-family model with a higher reported speed than Geran-3. |
| Geran-5 | Missile-like jet-powered Geran-family variant | Ukrainska Pravda and UNITED24 describe Geran-5 as a more missile-like or Karrar-like jet-powered member of the same Russian Geran evolution. Sources: Ukrainska Pravda Jet-Powered Shahed Analysis, UNITED24 Geran Launch Sites |
Ukrainska Pravda traces the jet-powered Shahed branch to Iran's public presentation of the Shahed-238, the model later used as the comparison point for Russia's Geran-3.
Sources: Ukrainska Pravda Jet-Powered Shahed Analysis
Ukrainian reporting cited Defence Intelligence of Ukraine as saying Russia was establishing production of its own Shahed-238 equivalent under the Geran-3 name.
Sources: Ukrainska Pravda Jet-Powered Shahed Analysis, Euromaidan Press Geran-3 Kyiv Report
Ukrainska Pravda reported that Geran-3 wreckage was found in Ukraine in early June 2025, while Euromaidan Press summarized Defense Express reporting on a likely Geran-3 in a strike on Kyiv.
Sources: Ukrainska Pravda Jet-Powered Shahed Analysis, Euromaidan Press Geran-3 Kyiv Report
Euromaidan Press, citing Militarnyi, reported that Russia used at least eight Geran-3 drones in a 30 July combined attack from the north alongside conventional Shahed-type drones and decoy UAVs.
Sources: Euromaidan Press Geran-3 Mass Use
DIU's War and Sanctions portal published a Geran-3 UAV page listing components for the series U vehicle, including the Telefly JT80 turbojet and Kometa satellite-navigation equipment.
Sources: DIU War and Sanctions Geran-3, Ukrainska Pravda Geran-3 Components
Euromaidan Press reported Ukrainian Sting interceptor-drone engagements against jet-powered Geran-3 drones and cited Ukrainian General Staff reporting of 138 Geran-3 drones launched in the same attack.
Sources: Euromaidan Press Sting Interceptors
UNITED24 reported OSINT analysis of larger launch infrastructure in Oryol Oblast believed to support newer jet-powered Geran variants including Geran-3/4 and Geran-5.
Sources: UNITED24 Geran Launch Sites
Ukrainska Pravda reported that Russian jet-powered drone use remained partly experimental but operationally relevant, with DIU and Ukrainian air-defense sources describing regular launches and a production push.
Sources: Ukrainska Pravda Jet-Powered Shahed Analysis
Defence Blog, citing Militarnyi and Ukrainian testing officials, reported that Russia had launched roughly 1,400 jet-powered Geran-family drones in the first months of 2026, compared with 180 in 2025.
Sources: Defence Blog Jet Geran Surge
Geran-3 sits between the mass-produced piston Geran-2/Shahed-136 and later jet Geran variants. The open sources use overlapping names, so the useful distinction is propulsion, speed band, and airframe lineage rather than a completely separate role.
| Designation | Reported configuration | Relationship to Geran-3 |
|---|---|---|
| Piston-engine one-way attack UAV used in mass Russian salvos. | Predecessor family and comparison point for the faster jet-powered branch. |
| Shahed-238 | Iranian jet-powered Shahed branch used as the analogue for Geran-3 reporting. | Design analogue cited in Ukrainian intelligence and defense reporting. |
| Geran-3 | Russian localized jet-powered Shahed-238 analogue with an externally mounted turbojet in public reporting. | Documented in 2014 Russia-Ukraine War reporting from 2025 onward. |
| Geran-4 / Geran-5 | Later jet-powered Geran variants described as faster or more missile-like. | Adjacent jet-powered variants in the same Russian Geran evolution. |
