Military — 2026-05-28

GUR Reveals Russia New Geran-4 Attack Drone Runs on Chinese Turbojet Engines

BLUFGeran-4's higher speed and reinforced airframe degrade Ukraine's interceptor advantage against Shahed-class threats, while retained Alabuga guidance preserves the efficacy of existing electronic countermeasures.

Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) on May 25 published a technical breakdown of Russia's Geran-4 attack drone on its War&Sanctions portal, reporting that Russia began combat use of the system in May 2026 123; GUR assessed the platform was developed explicitly to defeat Ukraine's low-cost drone interceptors. HUR identified two Chinese-made Telefly turbojet engines in the platform: the discontinued LX-WP-160 at 160 kgf thrust and the TF-TJ2000A at 200 kgf, the latter previously documented in the Geran-5 134. Disclosed specifications include a redesigned airframe with fixed integrated wings and reduced maintenance hatches, maximum speed of 500 km/h, range up to 450 km, ceiling of 5,000 m, and warhead options of 50 or 90 kg fragmentation-HE or thermobaric 25. HUR reported test launches from the "Primorsk" facility in Oryol Oblast and the former Donetsk Airport, with serial production preparations completed by January 2026 14.

Analysis
Russia's Geran-4, entering combat use in May 2026 per a GUR disclosure amplified without independent verification by Ukrainian secondary outlets, exploits the speed ceiling of Ukraine's low-cost interceptors. The Alabuga-identical control architecture signals Russia prioritized aerodynamic survivability over guidance improvements, leaving existing Ukrainian electronic countermeasures with residual efficacy against the new platform. Two Chinese Telefly turbojet engines, one discontinued and one previously indexed on the Geran-5, confirm the Sino-Russian defense industrial linkage has absorbed Western sanctions pressure without visible disruption. The disclosure may serve a Ukrainian strategic communications objective of exposing Chinese supply chains, making the headline 500 km/h performance figure, unverified by independent forensic analysis, carry reduced evidentiary weight.

5 sources

Ukrainian intelligence: Russia new jet-powered Geran-4 attack drone runs on Chinese turbojets - Euromaidan Press
Geran-4 UAV - Ukrainian Defence Intelligence (GUR) – War & Sanctions Portal
Ukraine Reveals New Russian Geran-4 Jet Drone Powered by Chinese Engines - Defense Express
Ukraine's Intelligence Reveals Russia's New Jet-Powered Geran-4 Drone Built to Evade Interceptors - United24 Media
Ukraine Intelligence Reports Russia Using New High-Speed 'Geran-4' Drone - Kyiv Post