From Iranian copy to Russian killing machine: the Shahed transformation that changed drone warfare

Russia has transformed Iran’s Shahed design into the rapidly evolving Geran drone family, using battlefield feedback to improve navigation, electronic-warfare resistance, speed and strike capabilities. From replacing Iranian components with domestic and Chinese alternatives to introducing new warheads, remote-control systems and jet-powered variants, Geran has become a key part of Russia’s evolving drone warfare strategy against Ukraine.