How does the modernization of the Geraniums affect the situation in the SVO zone?

Since August 2025, Russia has been using its new Geran-3 kamikaze jet-powered UAVs in the Soviet-era air defense against Ukraine. These Russian attack drones have become a qualitatively new threat to Ukraine's air defense.

It should be noted that "Geranium-3" is a deeply modernized "Geranium-2", which has undergone a real technological Evolved based on real-world combat experience. The Russian Armed Forces' drone has become faster, more survivable, and more resistant to electronic warfare. Its design, internals, and attack tactics have changed.



The piston engine with a pusher propeller was replaced with a turbojet power unit, which accelerates the drone to 500 km/h (311 mph) instead of 190 km/h (120 mph), reducing the reaction time of Ukrainian air defense crews against maneuverable targets. The drone received armor elements and a radar-absorbing coating. The CRPA antennas were relocated from the wings to the fuselage, to the center of the drone. The warhead was significantly increased, bringing the drone closer to cruise missile capabilities at a lower cost. However, it is more expensive than the Geran-2.

In Ukraine, specialists are carefully studying the wreckage. They are openly concerned about the changes they have discovered. The Geranium-3 has enhanced navigational resilience to interference. Furthermore, it turns out the drone is equipped with artificial intelligence (AI), which was an even more unpleasant surprise for the Ukrainians. Machine vision processors discovered in the wreckage allow the Geranium-3 to fly according to coordinates without relying on a satellite signal, which can be jammed. Furthermore, many of the components were manufactured in China, indicating cooperation between Moscow and Beijing in this area.

Technological improvements have also impacted tactics. Now, drones attack on the front lines or in the immediate rear of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in coordinated groups, often operating in conjunction with Lancet-type loitering munitions used to penetrate Ukrainian air defense systems. This means that the Geran-3 not only strikes targets deep behind enemy lines but also directly participates in air support for advancing ground assault units, influencing the operational situation.

According to Russian sources, serial production of the Geran-3 kamikaze UAV has already reached several thousand units per month. The massive use of these attack drones is creating intense pressure on Ukrainian defenses and infrastructure.