Russia Now Uses Smaller Geran-5 K5-K, Which Ukraine Says Is a Cruise Missile

In brief

• Ukraine's military intelligence says Russia has used a modified Geran-5 drone, the K5-K, against Ukrainian cities since early autumn.
• The GUR considers the K5-K a small-sized cruise missile based on its design and performance.
• Ukrainian investigators counted nearly 100 foreign-made electronic parts, most of them American.

Russia adopts a new variant against Ukrainian cities

Ukraine's Defense Intelligence (GUR) said Russian forces began using a modified version of the Geran-5 drone early this autumn to strike Ukrainian cities (DIU examines new Russian Geran-5 K5-K drone: Nearly 100 foreign components, most of them American – Ukrinform) (Это уже малогабаритная крылатая ракета. Россия применяет для ударов по Украине новую версию Герань-5 – NV).

Recovered airframe

An almost intact example came down in a field, giving analysts a close look at the design (Понад 50 компонентів електроніки зі США: ГУР розкрило характеристики нової модифікації "Герані-5" – Espreso). The K5-K is shorter than the standard Geran-5, and its wingspan is slightly reduced.

| Parameter | Geran-5 | Geran-5 K5-K | |---|---|---| | Length (m) | 6.5 | 4 | | Wingspan (m) | 3.2 | 3 | | Ceiling (km) | 5 | 6 | | Cruise speed (km/h) | — | over 450 | | Max speed in maneuvers (km/h) | — | up to 1000 | | Range (km) | 1000 | 1000 | | Warhead (kg) | 90 | 90 |

Sources:

Range and warhead weight are unchanged. The examined unit carried a TBBCh-90 thermobaric warhead.

Foreign components

The avionics closely match the latest versions of the jet-powered Geran-4 Seeker, including its flight controller, inertial navigation module and a locally made copy of a 16-element antenna. Ukrainian investigators counted nearly 100 foreign-made electronic parts in total, most of them American, according to the DIU and War&Sanctions findings (Ukrainiečiai ištyrė naują Rusijos droną: dauguma komponentų – amerikietiški – Diena.lt). The engine is a mini turbojet, and some reports link its components to Chinese supply.

What comes next

The GUR has published an interactive 3D model of the K5-K on the War&Sanctions portal, making the design available to the public (Нова "Герань-5" розганяється до 1000 км/год: розвідка розкрила деталі – UNIAN). The shift toward a missile-like profile could complicate air defense, since the munition flies faster and higher than earlier Geran drones (Russia’s attack drones are evolving into cruise missiles. Ukraine got a close look at the latest one. – Business Insider).

Read also

• Russia begins using upgraded Gerbera-2 drone with 1,200 km range and 25 kg warhead, Ukrainian intelligence says