Belarus unveils new long-range attack drones at Minsk parade
9:44 AM EDT, July 3, 2024
During a parade in Minsk, new drones labeled "Kochevnyk," which are a version of the Russian Gerana-2, effectively the Iranian Shahed-136, were spotted in the Belarusian armed forces' arsenal. We explain the capabilities of the new Belarusian weapon.
At the parade in Minsk, strike drones appeared, giving Belarus new options for attacking targets located over 621 miles behind the front line. It's worth noting that these primitive drones when used on a large scale alongside missiles from the Polonez system, can complicate enemy air defense.
“Kochevnyk” drones - a primitive design that can still be troublesome
“Kochevnyk” drones are a variant of the Gerana-2, licensed from Iranian Shahed-136 drones for which Russia paid Iran in gold. These drones are based on a delta wing configuration with a wingspan of 8 feet and feature two vertical stabilizers at the ends. The drone's total length is 11.5 feet, and its weight is around 441 pounds, with approximately 110 pounds dedicated to the warhead.
If it hits, the warhead can cause significant damage. However, there may be some issues because the drone is equipped only with simple guidance based on a civilian inertial and satellite navigation module. This makes it more susceptible to jamming, and it can only attack stationary targets along a pre-programmed flight path.
It's worth noting that throughout the war in Ukraine, the Russians continuously improved the Shaheds, adding, for example, a SIM card router to know when and where the drone was shot down or painting them black.
The drone is powered by a pusher propeller driven by a four-cylinder boxer engine type for drones, MD 550, with 50 HP, a Chinese copy of the German LIMBACH L550 E engine. The fuel supply should be enough for a range of 621-1553 miles.
Because of this, the drone is noisy, which makes it easier to detect even when flying at low altitudes. Due to its simple flight trajectory and cruising speed of 112 mph, it is an easy target not only for self-propelled systems like the Gepard but also for Ukrainian intervention groups with small arms, large-caliber machine guns, or automatic cannons mounted on pickup trucks.
