Russia builds extended launch rails for jet-powered Geran drones at Tsimbulova base
Updated
Updated · Business Insider · Apr 24
Russia builds extended launch rails for jet-powered Geran drones at Tsimbulova base
5 articles · Updated · Business Insider · Apr 24
Satellite imagery from April 2026 shows two new 85-meter launch rails and two shorter rails at the Tsimbulova base in Oryol, about 100 miles from Ukraine.
The longer rails support Geran-5 drones, resembling cruise missiles, while the shorter ones serve older Geran-3 and Geran-4 models. Construction began in late December 2025 and continued through early April.
Russia has escalated drone attacks on Ukraine, launching nearly 16,000 drones in early 2026. Ukraine is ramping up interceptor drone production, drawing interest from NATO and US allies seeking affordable air defense solutions.
Is Russia's new Geran-5 a drone or a low-cost cruise missile in disguise?
With Russian drones now flying at 600 km/h, can Ukraine's new interceptors keep pace?
Is Russia's mass drone strategy a sign of industrial strength or a cover for missile shortages?
How will Russia's cheap 'missile-drones' reshape the economics of modern air defense?
How are US-made components from 2024 ending up in Russia's latest jet-powered drones?
As drone speeds surge, is the US military's shift to laser defenses happening fast enough?