Tehran requested that Russia provide the regime with its new generation of Geran drones earlier this year during the Israeli-US war with Iran, the Financial Times reported on Sunday.
The report cited Western security officials and a source close to the Kremlin, who said that Iran made the request following substantial improvements to Russia’s Geran family of drones.
According to the report, the jet-powered Geran-4 and Geran-5, which follow their propeller-powered predecessors, have recently entered the Ukraine-Russia war and pose a much greater threat than earlier generations because they can evade defenses more easily.
Russia based the original Geran on Iranian-designed Shahed drones, which Moscow began producing in 2023.
The first-generation Geran carries a 20-kilogram warhead and has a top speed of 185 kph, while the new Geran-5 carries a 90-kilogram warhead at a top speed of 600 kph.
According to the Financial Times, it looks more like a cruise missile than a traditional Shahed drone. In contrast, the Geran-4 is less revolutionary but is more aerodynamic than its predecessor. Both have longer ranges than previous generations.
Both models also include thermal vision, AI-powered targeting, Russian anti-jamming antennas, and Chinese mesh radio network modems, while older designs relied on rudimentary guidance systems, the report added.
The report also cited pro-Kremlin media as saying the Geran-5, in particular, can be deployed by Russian Sukhoi-25 fighter jets, aircraft Tehran purchased in 2025.
Reuters contributed to this report.