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Following closely on the heels of its proposal to supply the upgraded Lancet-E loitering munition, Moscow has reportedly presented India with a significantly more advanced option: the Geran-3.
This long-range, turbojet-powered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is said to be in full-scale production, offering a strategic strike capability that far exceeds earlier models.
A Quantum Leap in Performance
The Geran-3 represents a major departure from previous designs, moving away from simple propeller propulsion to a high-performance system.Driven by a compact turbojet engine capable of producing 120–125 kgf of thrust, the drone can maintain cruising speeds of up to 600 km/h for approximately two hours.
While official briefings provided to Indian officials state a ferry range of 1,200 km, defence experts suggest that under ideal conditions, its operational combat radius could extend between 2,000 and 2,500 km.
Perhaps the most significant upgrade is its payload capacity. The Geran-3 carries a massive 300 kg warhead, which is six times heavier than the explosive payload of the widely known Geran-2 (Shahed-136). This substantial increase allows for greater destructive potential against hardened targets.
Stealth and Guidance Capabilities
Despite being larger than its predecessors—with a take-off weight of around 1,000 kg—Russian engineers claim to have minimised the drone's visibility to radar.Through advanced aerodynamic shaping and the use of radar-absorbent materials, the Geran-3 reportedly has a radar cross-section of less than 0.05 m².
The guidance systems offered to India are equally modern. The platform features multispectral electro-optical seekers that operate in mid- and long-wave infrared bands.
Additionally, it includes options for passive radar-homing technology, effectively making it a fast, low-observable kamikaze drone designed to overwhelm sophisticated air defence networks.
Tactical Advantages and Vulnerabilities
Russian officials argue that intercepting the Geran-3 would force the enemy to expend expensive active-radar missiles, such as the Barak-8 or Akash systems.Cheaper, short-range infrared systems or shoulder-fired missiles (MANPADS) would reportedly struggle to lock onto the drone as it approaches head-on at high speeds.
However, the design is not without flaws. The turbojet engine generates a significant heat signature (infrared plume) from the rear.
Moscow acknowledges this makes the drone vulnerable to fighter jets or heat-seeking missiles once it has passed its target, but views this as an acceptable compromise to achieve high speed and deep penetration.
Strategic Shift: Targets Over Swarms
The shift to jet propulsion brings higher costs. Unlike the inexpensive piston engines used in earlier loitering munitions, the Geran-3’s turbojet is costly to produce.This makes the "swarm" tactics seen in recent conflicts economically unviable. Instead, operators would likely use the Geran-3 in smaller numbers to strike high-value assets, such as command centres, S-400 radar installations, airfields, or docked naval ships.
The Iranian Connection and Indigenous Alternatives
International analysts have drawn strong parallels between the Geran-3 and Iran’s recently unveiled Shahed-238. However, Moscow insists that the Geran-3 is a distinct, heavily modified platform with unique avionics, airframe design, and engines.In its discussions with New Delhi, Russia has emphasised a complete transfer of technology and opportunities for future co-development, addressing long-standing Indian concerns regarding foreign dependence.
Despite the offer, the Indian response has been measured. The government is heavily invested in its own "Make in India" initiatives.
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), along with private firms such as Adani Defence, Solar Industries, and Alpha Design, is already advancing the Indian Long Range Loitering Munition (LRLM) programme.
Notably, recent successes in the domestic sector include the CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) and Solar Defence, which have successfully tested a 150-kg class loitering munition with a range of 900 km.
Additionally, Bengaluru-based Flying Wedge Defence has unveiled the FWD-LM01, a smaller loitering munition, signalling that the domestic ecosystem is maturing rapidly.
The Dilemma for New Delhi
For the Indian Armed Forces, the Russian offer presents a temptation: a combat-proven, off-the-shelf solution that could be operational within two to three years.However, for the proponents of "Atmanirbhar Bharat" (Self-Reliant India), accepting this proposal carries the risk of undermining the burgeoning domestic defence industry just as it begins to deliver viable strategic alternatives.
