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Russia enlarges Heron-2 drone with Geran-2 engine for longer range

Bottom line

Ukrainian GUR reports Russia is deploying an enlarged Heron-2 drone variant with a 1,200km range, powered by a localized Geran-2 engine and mesh modems to reduce costs.

Why it matters

An enlarged Heron-2 with Geran-2 propulsion would extend Russia's strike depth into western Ukraine and potentially threaten NATO rear areas, while mesh modems may offer resilience against traditional EW jamming.

Ukrainian intelligence (GUR) reports that Russia is utilizing an enlarged version of the Israeli Heron-2 UAV, featuring a 3-meter wingspan increase and a 63-liter fuel tank to achieve a 1,200km range. The system is reportedly equipped with a 25kg warhead, mesh modems, and an Alabuga-localized Geran-2 engine half. GUR claims these modifications allow the drone to approach the cost of the Geran-2 while offering significantly greater endurance and range than standard Shahed variants.

Pictures from the cited posts

Evidence — 1 independent origin

  • Telegram channel:ГУР МО Україниsource Corigin t.me
    Original text (excerpt)

    ❗️ War&Sanctions: противник застосовує велику версію БпЛА “Гербера” підвищеної дальності, здатну нести бойову частину вагою до 25 кг ГУР МО України на порталі War&Sanctions публікує інтерактивну 3D-модель, інформацію про складові та електронну компонентну базу БпЛА “Гербера-2”. 👉

NamedHeron-2Geran-2AlabugaTopicsdronescomponentsrussia

Related findings

← Latest findings · All findings from November 2026

History · version 1 · first published · last substantive update

Cite this finding
Robot War (2026). Russia enlarges Heron-2 drone with Geran-2 engine for longer range. Hetzner OSINT, 2 November 2026. https://robotwar.io/osint-hetzner/2026-11-02--russia-enlarges-heron-2-drone-with-geran-2-engine-for-longer-range/

@misc{robotwar-2026-11-02--russia-enlarges-heron-2-drone-with-geran-2-engine-for-longer-range,
  title = {Russia enlarges Heron-2 drone with Geran-2 engine for longer range},
  author = {Robot War},
  howpublished = {\url{https://robotwar.io/osint-hetzner/2026-11-02--russia-enlarges-heron-2-drone-with-geran-2-engine-for-longer-range/}},
  year = {2026},
  note = {Hetzner OSINT finding C3}
}

Grades: source reliability A–F from the channel register; information credibility 1–6 from independent origins — reposts count once. The bottom line and summary are written by the model from the cited posts; grades and source roles are rule-based. Methodology 2026-10-18.v7 · Corrections · JSON · RSS · API performance

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