Iran Seeks Advanced Russian Drones, Posing New Threat to Israel
Iran has requested advanced military assistance from Russia, specifically seeking more sophisticated "Geran" family jet-powered attack drones, according to a Financial Times report citing sources. If Russia agrees, Iran could field a significantly enhanced aerial threat, posing a greater challenge to Israel than the current, slower Shahed drones which are easier to detect and intercept.
The request is notable because Russia has extensively developed the Shahed technology it initially received from Iran, creating a new generation of faster, jet-powered drones. This marks a potential reversal in their arms cooperation, with Iran now interested in Russia's upgraded versions.
The primary danger of the jet-powered "Gerans" lies in their speed. While conventional Shaheds are relatively slow, jet variants like the "Geran-3" (based on the Iranian Shahed-238) can reach speeds of 300-370 km/h, with some estimates for the Shahed-238 reaching up to 600 km/h. Newer Russian models, "Geran-4" and "Geran-5," reportedly feature improved guidance and electronic warfare resistance, drastically reducing interception windows.
Ukrainian defense forces have experienced this firsthand, with interception rates for the newer jet drones reportedly around 60%, compared to much higher success against their slower predecessors. For Israel, these drones represent a threat falling between traditional Shaheds and faster cruise missiles, complicating air defense strategies.
Furthermore, these relatively inexpensive drones could be used in mass, mixed attacks alongside ballistic and cruise missiles, overwhelming air defense systems. Russia's experience in continuously improving the "Geran" series against Ukrainian air defenses and electronic warfare makes its expertise particularly valuable to Iran. Russia has reportedly industrialized the production of these drones, rapidly implementing combat-derived improvements.
The situation symbolizes a shift in the Russia-Iran arms relationship, with Iran potentially seeking to acquire the results of Russia's modernization efforts after initially supplying the base technology.
