Russian military forces are establishing a major new drone operating base near the town of Millerovo in the Rostov region, roughly 180 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. Satellite imagery dated October 29 reveals that construction on a fresh launch sector north of the existing Millerovo airfield began in September, according to reports from the Telegram channel “Strategic Aviation” cited by focus-news.net.
Infrastructure Expansion at the Millerovo Drone Facility
The newly photographed site is slated to become Russia’s second-largest drone airfield, trailing only the Cimbulov facility. The installation is designed to house 11 stationary launch pads specifically for “Geran-5” jet-powered unmanned aerial vehicles. Five of these launchers are already installed.
In addition to the launch rails, satellite photographs document the construction of 42 small garages, each engineered to house a single Geran-5 drone. Russian planners intend to construct 32 larger facilities capable of storing two UAVs each, alongside eight dedicated storage warehouses designed to hold up to 50 drones total. A few kilometers away sits the older Millerovo airfield, which routinely launches “Geran-2” and “Geran-3” propeller-driven drones from 12 smaller garages and features infrastructure reinforced with earthen berms.
Performance Upgrades of Geran-5 Jet Drones
The new jet-powered models represent a significant technological leap from earlier loitering munitions. Serhii Beskrestnov, a defense technology adviser to the Ukrainian presidency known by the call sign Flash, stated during a briefing in Kyiv that Ukrainian specialists registered the Geran-5 reaching speeds up to 1,000 kilometers per hour during tactical maneuvers, as reported by news.bg. Earlier propeller variants like the Geran-3 typically cruised at 280 to 300 kilometers per hour, while standard Geran-4 and Geran-5 jets generally operate between 500 and 600 kilometers per hour, according to Vesti.bg data.
This velocity drastically compresses the decision-making window for air defense crews. Ukrainian military intelligence estimates that Russian production facilities now manufacture approximately 3,000 “Geran-4” and “Geran-5” jet units per month, utilizing advanced foreign components despite ongoing sanctions. Vesti.bg notes that these upgraded systems incorporate sophisticated optics, mesh communication modems, cellular modules, and 16-element CRPA antennas paired with NASIR anti-jamming safeguards.
Recovering new gasoline-powered drone wreckage on the frontline
Beyond the jet-powered variants, Ukrainian specialists recently recovered wreckage of an unidentified Russian gasoline-powered drone on the frontline that visually resembles the Lancet loitering munition family, dunavmost.com reported. Replacing standard electric motors with internal combustion engines aims to extend loitering time beyond battery limits, though experts note that actual combat effectiveness remains tied to fuel consumption and aerodynamic payload limits. Sergey Beskrestnov explained that recovering intact units will clarify their exact performance parameters.
Did you know? Ukrainian developers are actively testing jet-powered interceptor drones to counter high-speed incoming threats, though achieving reliable automated target acquisition and mass serial production remains a formidable industrial hurdle.
Ukrainian military intelligence assesses that the completed Millerovo launch site could theoretically support up to 100 launches daily. However, actual operational intensity will depend on continuous missile and fuel deliveries, weather, and the availability of trained launch crews.
Mapping the Millerovo drone base defenses and reach
How far is the Millerovo drone base from the Ukrainian border?
The newly constructed launch infrastructure sits approximately 180 kilometers from the border of Ukraine in Russia’s Rostov region.
What air defenses protect the Millerovo site?
According to satellite analysis from the “Strategic Aviation” channel cited by focus-news.net, the active sector currently operates with a minimal presence of air defense or electronic warfare assets.
How fast can the Geran-5 drone travel?
While standard flight speeds range from 500 to 600 kilometers per hour, Ukrainian defense technology adviser Serhii Beskrestnov reported that Ukrainian specialists recorded individual Geran-5 units hitting speeds up to 1,000 kilometers per hour during evasive maneuvers.
How many Geran-5 launchers are planned for the facility?
The base is designed to host 11 stationary launch pads for jet-powered drones, with five already installed alongside dozens of specialized storage garages.