Firstly the name: the Geran-4 is named for the geranium and takes sending flowers abroad to a whole new dimension. But here's why war's different this time, breaking down what goes where, to allow it to go there:
Planform: Its delta-wing developed in Germany during WW2 closely resembles the outline of the UK's Vulcan, its most successful nuclear bomber by a margin and with a range that saw it (albeit refuelled) used to bomb targets near the Antarctic. It has the benefit of ease of manufacture and robust rigidity... which we've to thank Iran for.
Power: Germany also pioneered the smallest turbo-jets, although did so with more peaceful pursuits like aero-modelling in view. This one, of Chinese manufacture, is able to power the drone at well over 300 m.p.h. at altitudes of well over 25,000'.
GPS: These chips are, well, cheap as chips and a quantum leap beyond the doodle-bugs that rained on London in WW2, which were practically point-and-shoot.
Comms: Ironically, no satellite required but there if you need them courtesy of the Starlink network alternatively used for streaming Netflix. The Geran has high-speed modems that enable its cameras to transmit real-time images to an operator using ~ don't laugh ~ European SIM cards if necessary.
Networking: Phone signals can be relayed at distances of over two hundred miles to ground-stations or using other drones, so as to provide prime-time views of what you'd like to target.
Optics: The latest cameras can be directed from a great height in order to identify those targets a long way in advance.
Computing: All of this has to be co-ordinated, not least at the same time as flying the drone and navigating... and all of that is done by this.
Scale: At one end the airframes are small, providing for ease of manufacture. At the other, Russia has always had the means to produce great numbers of aircraft. A single plant in Russia assembles the airframe and everything inside at a rate of over a hundred per day, which is why thousands rain on Ukraine (and Russia) daily.
Supply-Chain: The modern world is a smorgasbord for source and delivery of parts globally, whereas German drones in WW2 were a domestic fare. Circuit boards from Texas Instruments play a part in this, though they're unlikely to have been aware of the fact.
I'd hoped the panels on the topside of the wings were spoilers of the kind used by dive-bombers like the Stuka in WW2 ~ but they simply provide access to internals, so I'm giving them nine out of ten. Nonetheless if you're thinking of upgrading your Geran-3 for a -4, Vodafone offer an unbeatable bundle this month.
