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Ukrainian intelligence finds terrain-matching cameras on Russia's jet-powered Gerans
Ukraine's defence intelligence directorate says Russia is fitting its Susanin camera navigation module to Geran-4 and Geran-5 K5 jet drones. At scale, Business Insider reports, the modules would bypass jamming, a key pillar of Ukraine's air defence.
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Key figures card. A Geran-4 jet drone is estimated to cost at least $50,000 each, up to $70,000. A Kh-101 cruise missile is estimated to cost $2.4 million each. Russia launched over 3,500 jet attack drones at Ukraine in September alone. All figures per Business Insider.
- 50,000 US dollars Geran-4 jet drone, estimated cost each, at least, claim 9 up to $70,000, Business Insider estimate
- 2,400,000 US dollars Kh-101 cruise missile, estimated cost each, claim 8 Business Insider estimate
- 3,500 drones Jet attack drones Russia launched at Ukraine, over, claim 28 in September alone
| Figure | Value | Note | Claim |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geran-4 jet drone, estimated cost each, at least | 50,000 US dollars | up to $70,000, Business Insider estimate | 9 |
| Kh-101 cruise missile, estimated cost each | 2,400,000 US dollars | Business Insider estimate | 8 |
| Jet attack drones Russia launched at Ukraine, over | 3,500 drones | in September alone | 28 |
What happened
- The Susanin stores images of Ukrainian terrain on the drone and compares them with a live feed from a downward-facing camera, so the drone can work out its own position and route.
- Both turbojet models fly at 280 mph or faster and outpace typical Ukrainian interceptor drones, which makes them harder to destroy by force.
- Analyst Serhii Beskrestnov wrote: "Our enemy already uses such systems on small Molniya, V2U, and Lancet drones."
- Business Insider puts the Geran-4 at an estimated $50,000 to $70,000 apiece and the Geran-5 at about $100,000 to $115,000.
- Russia launched more than 3,500 jet attack drones at Ukraine in September alone, according to Business Insider.
Why it matters
- constraint Planning for these drones has to assume the electronic layer adds nothing, since Liukov says physical force is Ukraine's only counter to a Susanin-equipped turbojet drone for now.
- cost Each time Ukraine answers with a rare, expensive anti-air missile, it spends a scarce weapon on a drone that costs an estimated $50,000 to $70,000 in the Geran-4's case.
- contradiction GUR describes a newly found device, but Beskrestnov and Liukov both say Russia already uses such navigation, so the news is its spread to the jet airframes.
How much jamming loses depends on how many drones carry the module, and the sources do not settle that. Business Insider's own wording is conditional: should Moscow deploy the modules at scale, they would let Russian one-way drones bypass jamming, a key pillar of Ukraine's air defense network [18]. The reporting does not say how many Susanin-equipped drones have flown. Every named source is tied to Ukraine's military. GUR put out its call for information on the device last week [1]. Serhii "Flash" Beskrestnov is a drone analyst connected with Ukraine's military [20]. Kyrylo Liukov leads the uncrewed technologies department at a foundation that raises funds for Ukraine's military and drone manufacturers [19]. Liukov told Business Insider it is "quite possible" Russia could scale up [26]. "Russia is already using this navigation system for medium- and deep-strike operations," he said, adding that its deployment on Geran-4s and Geran-5s has been increasing recently [27][10].
The guidance idea has a cruise-missile pedigree. Higher-end Russian cruise missiles such as the Kh-101 use a Russian version of the technique, called Otblesk-U [7], and the Kh-101 is estimated to cost $2.4 million each [8]. Against the Geran estimates above, that is roughly 34 to 48 times the price of a Geran-4 [22] and roughly 21 to 24 times the price of a Geran-5 [23]. Beskrestnov put the data requirement low. He wrote: "Even Google Earth imagery is sufficient for basic orientation." [6]
Liukov also set out the limits. He said the Susanin by itself is useful only for pre-programmed attacks and cannot help a drone find a moving armored vehicle or a mobile missile launcher [11]. "In other words, these are predominantly planned, static targets," he said [12]. Business Insider adds that pre-arranged flights fit Moscow's strategy of launching Gerans in large numbers to overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses and wreak havoc on its cities [13].
The module also depends on flight profile and weather. Liukov said: "For high-quality route recognition using Susanin, a flight altitude relative to speed is required that will allow for accurate orientation using the captured images, as well as favorable weather conditions." [17] Clouds, rain or fog could obscure the camera's view of the terrain, he said [21].
In our view the difficulty is sequencing. Interceptor drones that can catch turbojet Gerans are only in the early stages of introduction [15], and Beskrestnov warned that by next year Russia would likely still be working hard on Susanin systems for its drones [24]. Blinding the camera, the one other option Liukov raised, is something Ukraine could eventually explore [16].
What to watch
- Whether GUR or Ukrainian officials publish a count of Susanin-equipped Gerans among the jet drones launched each month.
- Whether Ukraine fields interceptor drones that can catch turbojet Gerans in numbers, since physical force is the only counter Liukov names for now.
- Whether Susanin-guided flights are used against moving targets or in poor weather, which would test the limits Liukov described.
Clarity's read
What the record supports and how the coverage leans. The claims behind it follow.
Reality
- Evidence45
- Adoption35
- Hype gap+10
- Incentives55
- Confidence50
Claim ledger
Ranked by verification strength, evidence, and original report placement.
- [1]
Last week, Ukraine's defense intelligence directorate (GUR) put out a call for information on a device newly found in Russia's latest drones.
ReportedSupportedSource: Business Insider, citing Ukraine's defense intelligence directorateView cited source - [2]
The Susanin is a small cylinder with a camera lens, an optical system that lets Russia's long-range drones navigate without satellite or radio signals.
- [3]
Per GUR, the Kremlin has been fitting Susanin modules onto the turbojet Geran-4 and Geran-5 K5.
- [4]
The Geran-4 and Geran-5 K5 fly at 280 mph or faster and outpace typical Ukrainian interceptor drones, making them significantly harder to destroy by force.
- [5]
The Susanin stores images of Ukraine's terrain on the drone, then uses a downward-facing camera in flight to compare the live feed to the saved imagery, letting the drone determine its position and how to reach its target.
- [6]
Serhii Beskrestnov wrote: "Even Google Earth imagery is sufficient for basic orientation."
- [7]
Higher-end Russian cruise missiles such as the Kh-101 use a Russian version of terrain-matching technology called Otblesk-U.
- [8]
The Kh-101 is estimated to cost $2.4 million each.
- [9]
The delta-wing Geran-4 is priced at an estimated $50,000 to $70,000 apiece, while the Geran-5 is believed to cost about $100,000 to $115,000 each.
- [10]
Liukov added that deployment of the navigation system on Geran-4s and Geran-5s has been increasing recently.
- [11]
Liukov said the Susanin by itself is only useful for pre-programmed drone attacks and would not help a drone find a moving Ukrainian armored vehicle or mobile missile launcher.
- [12]
Liukov said: "In other words, these are predominantly planned, static targets."
- [13]
Pre-arranged flights fit well into Moscow's strategy with Gerans, which are launched in large numbers to overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses and wreak havoc on its cities.
- [14]
If a Russian turbojet drone is using a Susanin system, Ukraine's only way to counter it for now is physical force.
- [15]
Ukraine's military is still in the early stages of introducing advanced interceptor drones capable of catching turbojet Gerans; the other option is rare and expensive anti-air missiles, typically reserved for Russia's more powerful cruise or ballistic missiles.
- [16]
One possible solution Ukraine could eventually explore is to blind the Susanin's camera.
- [17]
Liukov said: "For high-quality route recognition using Susanin, a flight altitude relative to speed is required that will allow for accurate orientation using the captured images, as well as favorable weather conditions."
- [18]
Should Moscow deploy the modules at scale, they would introduce a major new challenge for Kyiv, allowing Russian one-way drones to bypass jamming, a key pillar of Ukraine's air defense network.
- [19]
Liukov leads the uncrewed technologies department at the Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation, which raises funds for Ukraine's military and drone manufacturers.
- [20]
Serhii "Flash" Beskrestnov is a prominent drone analyst connected with Ukraine's military.
- [21]
The camera's view of Ukrainian terrain could also be obscured by clouds, rain or fog.
- [22]
The Kh-101 costs roughly 34 to 48 times a Geran-4.
- [23]
The Kh-101 costs roughly 21 to 24 times a Geran-5.
- [24]
Beskrestnov warned that Russia would likely continue actively developing Susanin systems for its drones by next year.
- [25]
Beskrestnov wrote: "Our enemy already uses such systems on small Molniya, V2U, and Lancet drones."
- [26]
Kyrylo Liukov told Business Insider it is "quite possible" that Russia could scale up its use of navigation systems like the Susanin.
- [27]
Liukov said: "Russia is already using this navigation system for medium- and deep-strike operations."
- [28]
Russia launched over 3,500 jet attack drones at Ukraine in September alone.
Sources
1 independent publisher whose own reporting we read for this story.
- businessinsider.comRussia is copying cruise missile tech onto its $50,000 drones to deal with Ukraine's jamming
1 article · October 12, 2026
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