EXCLUSIVE: Russia ramps up Geran kamikaze drone production plans to scale to 500 enabling daily strikes on Ukraine.

According to information published by the British newspaper The Economist, on May 25, 2025, Russia has reached a critical benchmark in the mass production of its Geran-series loitering munitions, manufacturing approximately 100 units per day. This surge represents a four- to fivefold increase compared to 2024 production rates and confirms Moscow's success in adapting its defense industry to function effectively despite intense sanctions imposed by the United States and the European Union.
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Russian military parade May 2025 showcases a Geran drone launcher truck, highlighting the country's growing reliance on loitering munitions for long-range precision strikes. (Picture source: Telegram)

The Economist, citing an informed source, further disclosed that Russian authorities plan to scale up the production rate to as many as 500 Geran kamikaze drones per day. CNN corroborated this development, reporting that from January to September 2024 alone, more than 5,760 of these drones were produced in the Russian republic of Tatarstan—twice the number manufactured during all of 2023. This production boom underscores Russia’s ability to sustain prolonged airstrike campaigns, with Geran drones and missiles forming the backbone of its continued daily attacks against Ukraine.

The Geran (Герань in Russian, meaning "Geranium") is Russia’s designation for Iranian-origin Shahed loitering munitions. Specifically, the Geran-1 corresponds to the Shahed-131, while the Geran-2 designates the Shahed-136. These drones are characterized as kamikaze or suicide drones, designed to loiter in the air before striking ground targets with explosive payloads. The Geran-2, the larger of the two variants, has emerged as a key asset in Russia's long-range strike arsenal, used to target infrastructure, command posts, and logistics hubs. Among its main features are a wingspan of approximately 2.5 meters, a range of up to 2,000 kilometers, and a warhead weighing around 40 kilograms. The drone’s relatively low cost and ease of deployment make it an effective tool in saturating enemy air defenses.

The rapid escalation in Geran production is reportedly being supported through cooperation with China, although Chinese authorities have officially denied any involvement, dismissing the allegations as unfounded. Nevertheless, defense intelligence sources indicate that China has been indirectly supplying critical materials and advanced manufacturing equipment to nearly 20 Russian drone factories. These supplies include dual-use electronics, machine tools, and high-grade composites essential for sustaining high-volume UAV assembly.

Beyond external assistance, Russia is also believed to have developed indigenous production capabilities to compensate for components restricted by Western export controls. Experts note that Russia has established local manufacturing lines for key systems such as inertial navigation, airframe components, and propulsion modules. These adaptations illustrate how Moscow has managed to reconfigure its military-industrial base for wartime output, ensuring a continuous flow of precision-guided munitions to the front lines.

The sustained daily drone and missile strikes against Ukrainian territory highlight the strategic effectiveness of this production model. It allows Russia not only to exert consistent pressure on Ukrainian military and civilian infrastructure but also to demonstrate the depth and resilience of its long-range strike capabilities. With Geran kamikaze drones now being deployed in large numbers, Ukraine and its Western allies are faced with a growing challenge to reinforce air defense systems and adapt countermeasures to this evolving threat landscape.