Moscow has reportedly presented India with a far more capable unmanned strike platform just weeks after proposing the upgraded Lancet-E loitering munition, signalling a renewed push to position Russian combat drones as a solution for New Delhi’s long-range precision strike needs. The new offer centres on the Geran-3, a turbojet-powered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that represents a significant leap over earlier propeller-driven loitering munitions and is claimed to be in full-scale production.
According to briefings shared with Indian officials, the Geran-3 is designed as a long-range, high-speed strike system capable of penetrating sophisticated air defence networks. Unlike its predecessors, such as the Geran-2 (widely associated with the Iranian Shahed-136 lineage), the Geran-3 abandons simple piston engines in favour of a compact turbojet producing around 120–125 kilogram-force of thrust. This propulsion system allows the drone to cruise at speeds of up to 600 km/h for roughly two hours, a dramatic increase over the slow, noisy profiles of earlier loitering munitions.
Russian officials state that the drone has a ferry range of about 1,200 km, but defence analysts believe the true operational potential may be far greater. Under favourable flight profiles and payload configurations, some experts estimate the Geran-3’s effective combat radius could extend to between 2,000 and 2,500 km, placing deep strategic targets well within reach.
The most striking enhancement, however, lies in the drone’s payload. The Geran-3 is reportedly capable of carrying a 300-kg warhead—six times the explosive mass of the Geran-2. This enables it to threaten hardened or high-value targets, including reinforced command centres, air defence nodes, airfields, and naval assets. With an overall take-off weight of around 1,000 kg, the Geran-3 is significantly larger than earlier loitering munitions, yet Russian engineers claim its radar visibility has been carefully managed.
Moscow asserts that advanced aerodynamic shaping and the use of radar-absorbent materials have reduced the drone’s radar cross-section to less than 0.05 square metres. If accurate, this would make detection and tracking more challenging for conventional surveillance radars, especially when combined with the drone’s high speed and low-altitude flight profile.
Guidance and targeting options form another key part of the Russian pitch. The Geran-3 is offered with multispectral electro-optical seekers operating in mid-wave and long-wave infrared bands, allowing it to engage targets in diverse weather and lighting conditions. In addition, passive radar-homing options are reportedly available, enabling the drone to home in on emissions from enemy radar systems. This configuration effectively turns the Geran-3 into a fast, low-observable kamikaze drone optimised to overwhelm or suppress advanced air defence networks.
Russian officials argue that defending against such a threat would be economically unfavourable for the target. Interception would likely require the use of expensive surface-to-air missiles relying on active radar guidance, such as India’s Barak-8 or Akash systems. Cheaper point-defence solutions, including short-range infrared systems or shoulder-fired MANPADS, may struggle to achieve a reliable lock, particularly during a high-speed head-on approach.
The design is not without vulnerabilities. The turbojet engine produces a pronounced infrared plume from the rear, making the drone more visible to heat-seeking missiles or fighter aircraft after it passes a target. Russian designers acknowledge this weakness but view it as an acceptable trade-off to achieve the desired speed, range, and penetration capability.
Cost is another critical factor. The shift from inexpensive piston engines to turbojet propulsion significantly raises unit prices, making mass “swarm” attacks—common with earlier loitering munitions—economically impractical. Instead, the Geran-3 is intended for limited-number strikes against high-value targets, rather than saturation attacks against dispersed defences.
International observers have noted strong similarities between the Geran-3 and Iran’s recently unveiled Shahed-238, a jet-powered loitering munition. Moscow, however, insists that the Geran-3 is a distinct platform, featuring unique avionics, airframe modifications, and propulsion systems. In discussions with New Delhi, Russia has also emphasised the possibility of full technology transfer and future co-development, addressing India’s long-standing concerns over dependency on foreign suppliers.
Despite the capabilities on offer, India’s response has reportedly been cautious. The government remains deeply committed to its “Make in India” and “Atmanirbhar Bharat” (self-reliant India) initiatives, particularly in the defence sector. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), alongside private players such as Adani Defence, Solar Industries, Alpha Design, and others, is actively advancing the Indian Long Range Loitering Munition (LRLM) programme.
Recent domestic milestones underscore the rapid maturation of India’s drone ecosystem. CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) and Solar Defence have successfully tested a 150-kg class loitering munition with a reported range of around 900 km. Bengaluru-based Flying Wedge Defence has also unveiled the FWD-LM01, a smaller loitering munition aimed at tactical roles.
For the Indian Armed Forces, the Russian proposal offers a tempting shortcut: a combat-proven, off-the-shelf system that could be inducted within two to three years. Yet for policymakers focused on strategic autonomy, accepting such an offer risks undercutting domestic industry just as indigenous programmes begin to deliver credible long-range strike options. The Geran-3 thus stands not only as a weapons system, but as a test of India’s resolve to balance immediate capability needs against long-term self-reliance.
