These are the Russian Geran-2 drones shot down by NATO in Poland: they attack in swarms at 180 km/h to saturate anti-aircraft defenses.

Poland has shot down several Russian drones that entered its airspace during a Russian attack on Ukraine. This is the first time a NATO member has neutralized Russian aerial vehicles over its territory. According to the Polish government, the neutralized drones were Geran 2s , a Russian variant of the Iranian Shahed-136 model frequently used in the Russo-Ukrainian war.

This episode exacerbates tensions in the region and underscores the danger that the conflict could spread beyond the borders of Russia and Ukraine. Furthermore, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated before Parliament that, following the violation of Russian airspace by drones, "we are closer to an open conflict since the Second World War." To be clear about the situation, this is a dangerous incident because, as we say, it was the first time that Russian drones had to be shot down over the territory of a NATO member state.

These unmanned aerial devices were the Geran-2 , manufactured by the Iranian company Shahed Aviation Industries Research Center and designed to attack targets individually or be fired jointly from launch platforms.

Features of the Geran-2 drones

The Geran-2 drones are shaped like a delta wing , have a centralized fuselage that connects the stabilizers and the wings, incorporates a motor in the rear part that is responsible for driving a two-blade propeller to serve as propulsion, measures 3.5 meters long, has a wingspan of 2.5 meters, weighs around 200 kilos , has optical sensors to control the trajectory in flight and has a range of up to 2,000 kilometers .

Regarding how these drones operate, the Geran-2s tilt upwards and, once they reach a certain distance, receive an additional boost thanks to the RATO assistance system to gain speed . It's also important to mention that they are highly versatile when launched, as they can be launched from any vehicle . They are usually launched in "swarms" to saturate their ability to be shot down by enemy air defenses.

The Geran-2s also incorporate satellite navigation systems and an inertial guidance system based on internal sensors to measure acceleration and rotation. They can also, on certain occasions, be equipped with infrared seekers or anti-radar systems to detect and attack enemy air defenses.

Drones receive improvements to resist threats

As a variant of the Shahed drones, there's a possibility that the Geran-2s have also introduced new capabilities to help them survive any threat.

The latest improvements to the Shahed include a carbon coating, improved radar resistance , the addition of SIM cards for transmitting data over mobile networks, and the introduction of incendiary and fragmentation warheads for starting fires . These upgrades, therefore, increase the combat effectiveness of these devices, extend their range, and multiply their survival rate. As we mentioned, while Iranian drones have incorporated these advancements, the Geran-2 may also have them.