Russia’s Geran-4 Drone Declassified: Chinese Turbojet Engine, 500 km/h Speed, 450 km Range
According to Defence-UA and Kyiv Post, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense Military Intelligence Directorate (GUR MO) revealed in its assessment published at the end of May 2026 that Russia’s new jet-powered attack drone Geran-4 is equipped with two different Chinese-made turbojet engines.
- Engine: Telefly LX-WP-160 (primary) and Telefly TF-TJ2000A — Chinese-made turbojet
- Speed: ~500 km/h
- Range: ~450 km
- Warhead: 50 kg HE or thermobaric / 90 kg thermobaric
- Target production: 500 units per month
- First combat use: January 2026 (detection), May 2026 (serial)
Why Was Geran-4 Produced?
Since 2022, Russia has been using Shahed-136-based Geran-2 drones in mass attacks. However, Ukraine’s FPV drone defense, composed of electronic warfare and radar networks, has increased its countermeasure capacity; the interception rate of the propeller-driven Geran-2 has risen. Russia’s response was the jet-engine-powered Geran-4.
China’s Role: Telefly Engines
According to the GUR MO report, both types of engines used in the Geran-4 are produced by Telefly Telecommunications Equipment Co., Limited. The TF-TJ2000A had previously been detected in the Geran-5 as well. The export of these engines to Russia is a finding that documents a direct dual-use issue under Western sanctions.
| Parameter | Geran-2 | Geran-4 |
|---|---|---|
| Propulsion system | MD-550 propeller (China) | Telefly LX-WP-160 turbojet (China) |
| Speed | ~185 km/h | ~500 km/h |
| Range | 1,000–2,500 km | ~450 km |
| Warhead | 40 kg HE | 50–90 kg HE / thermobaric |
| Advantage | Long range, low cost | High speed, evasion difficulty |
NATO and Regional Context
According to Meta Defense, if Russia reaches its monthly production target of 500 units of Geran-4, Ukraine’s current interception capacity may reach saturation point. A drone traveling at 500 km/h limits the effective response time of most existing short-range air defense systems to mere seconds.
What Does This Mean for Turkey?
- STM KUZGUN‘s range of over 1,000 km exceeds the 450 km range of Geran-4; Turkey possesses a competitive platform in this class.
- ASELSAN’s electronic warfare systems (ÇAFRAD, KORAL) enhance effectiveness against jet-propelled high-speed targets.
- Turkey’s support for Ukraine with TB2/TB3 is elevated to a more strategic dimension with the serial deployment of Geran-4.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Geran-2 and Geran-4? Engine: Geran-2 propeller (slow, long range), Geran-4 Chinese turbojet (fast, short range). Geran-4 is optimized for evasion difficulty.
Which country is Telefly from? China. The export of LX-WP-160 and TF-TJ2000A engines to Russia highlights the dual-use sanction issues documented.
What does 500 per month mean? Ukraine intercepts 30-50 drones daily. 500 Geran-4/month would create new pressure in both volume and speed.
Conclusion
Geran-4 is the clearest evidence that Russia is attempting to leapfrog in drone technology through its partnership with China. The turbojet engine, high speed, and increased warhead weight directly challenge the interception architecture that Ukraine has built over the past two years.
