Satellite Photos Show Russia Built a Geran Drone Launch Base in Weeks

Satellite images reviewed by Business Insider show Russia turned an empty field in southwestern Russia into an attack drone base in a matter of weeks. The site is roughly two miles from an air base in Millerovo and is in an area already associated with publicly known Geran launch sites. Images provided by Vantor and Planet Labs show the progression from an essentially empty field on August 8 to a compound with visible roads, launch areas, storage facilities, and support buildings by October.

Spencer Faragasso of the Institute for Science and International Security told Business Insider the site is likely a launch facility for the newer Geran-5. He pointed to longer catapult launch rails, which are associated with a drone reported to fly up to 370 mph and require launch rails of about 280 feet or longer. That speed matters because some interceptor drones that can stop older Gerans may not be fast enough for newer versions, raising pressure on Ukraine’s air-defense network.

An October 27 image showed the base was still under construction, and Business Insider reported it was unclear whether it is now operational, though unlikely at that point. The photo showed at least eight launch bays at the new installation, possibly all for Geran-5s. Brady Africk of the American Enterprise Institute said several bays did not yet have catapult rails installed and that storage buildings for equipment and munitions appeared to still be under construction.

The base near Millerovo is about 14 miles from Ukraine’s internationally recognized border and about 130 miles from the front line. DroneSec’s analysis said the project could bring the number of Geran launch bays in the area to 12 when combined with four other rails already at the Millerovo air base. Mike Monnik of DroneSec called Russia’s approach a “massive infrastructure bet,” while Business Insider reported that Ukrainian estimates put the Geran-5 at about $115,000 per drone, compared with the million-dollar missiles Kyiv may need if cheaper counters are not available.