Russian Geran-2 drones now hunt heat targets in night strikes
On June 24, 2025, reports revealed that Russia had upgraded its Geran-2 kamikaze drone—based on Iran’s Shahed-136—by adding a thermal imaging camera, Nvidia Jetson Orin processor, and enhanced navigation systems, significantly boosting its precision and effectiveness in low-visibility conditions. This innovation enables the drone to detect heat signatures for accurate targeting in darkness, fog, or smoke, and provides operators with real-time control. While the upgrade enhances battlefield capabilities, especially in Ukraine, it also raises ethical concerns over autonomous targeting and civilian risk. The development underscores a growing global arms race in drone warfare, highlighting both the strategic advantages and humanitarian challenges of increasingly intelligent unmanned systems.