Russian Geran-2 Drones Capable of Reaching Most European Capitals
Russian Geran-2 drones with a range of up to 2,500 km can reach almost any European capital, bypass air defenses, and expose NATO’s vulnerabilities, Defense Express reports.
Russian long-range drones are capable of striking targets across nearly the entire European continent, according to a report by Defense Express.
Recent incidents in Poland, as well as sightings of unidentified UAVs near airports in Oslo and Copenhagen, have intensified discussions in Europe about the real capabilities of Russia’s drone fleet.
Citing intelligence from Ukraine’s military intelligence directorate, the publication notes that the Geran-2 drone can cover distances ranging from 1,800 to 2,500 kilometers. This means Moscow could potentially use the same infrastructure deployed against Ukraine to target NATO countries.
According to the report, launch points could include Crimea, Bryansk region, or Saint Petersburg. Drones with a range of up to 1,800 kilometers could strike Scandinavia, the Netherlands, much of Germany, and southern Italy. If their range reaches 2,500 kilometers, they could hit the United Kingdom, almost all of France, and most of Italy.
The article also emphasizes that Russia could rapidly set up new launch sites within a few months. Airfields in Belarus or Kaliningrad could extend the drones’ operational range by an additional 700 kilometers, putting Madrid and virtually all of Europe within reach.
The recent drone incident highlighted weaknesses in Poland’s air defense network, according to Defense Express. The publication adds that Russian UAVs are capable of bypassing the first layers of Western air defense systems, allowing them to move across European airspace with relative freedom.
Moreover, the report points out a significant cost imbalance: the expense for EU countries to intercept a single Russian drone is tens or even hundreds of times higher than the cost for Russia to launch it.