Upgrades to Iranian Drones for Russian Use
Ukrainian forensic expert Oleksandr Vysikan shared insights on Thursday regarding Russia’s plans to enhance Iranian suicide drones, suggesting they will incorporate more advanced technology. This enhancement aims to bypass Ukraine’s air defenses and increase explosive power.
Speaking to Radio Free Europe, Oleksandr mentioned that Russia is deploying “more powerful warheads” with the Iran-designed Shahed drones. He also highlighted a backup guidance system intended to function if the main electronics are disrupted, along with satellite guidance features, making it challenging for Ukrainian forces to interfere with them.
“We’ve noticed changes in the warheads and some electronic components,” he explained, showing pieces recovered from a downed Russian drone.
“The internal electronics are quite different from earlier models. They’ve been completely revamped,” he added.
Others are also observing the situation closely. The upgrades to Russian drones have made them increasingly difficult for Ukraine to intercept this year. The earlier, simpler Iranian drone model has been enhanced with AI targeting, thermal imaging, and protective features against electronic warfare.
Interestingly, despite restrictions, Russia has found methods to acquire these advanced electronics. Finnish customs authorities are reportedly investigating a scheme where banned materials worth over $3 million were allegedly exported to Russia by local companies. These firms reportedly bought components from the US, the EU, and China, only to falsely sell them to clients thought to be in the EU and Hong Kong, while actually rerouting them to Russia.
A significant player in this scheme is said to be a dual citizen of Finland and Russia, whose son is suspected of being involved with the Russian military.
The US Treasury Department has indicated that many third-party entities are engaged in similar activities, supplying Russia with essential technology for its military efforts.
In response, the Ukrainian army is adapting by modifying its drones for interception. Ukrainian pilots are also skilled at targeting Russian drones mid-air. Recent air attacks show that the dynamics of air power might be shifting in favor of Russia.
Recently, Russia launched a massive attack with 52 Shahed drones against multiple sites. Ukraine managed to intercept about 40 of them. Earlier in January, they successfully defended against all 61 drones deployed that night.
Since 2022, Russia has increasingly relied on Iranian Shahed drones after facing significant early challenges in drone warfare.
The Shahed series has proven to be cost-effective compared to more sophisticated UAVs used by Western forces. Analysts have even referred to them as “poor man’s cruise missiles” due to their low production cost of around $20,000 each.
Russia has been somewhat reluctant to admit that it is importing these drones from Iran, initially claiming they were designed domestically. Yet, it has become apparent that they were indeed upgrading Iranian drones with better electronics and explosive capabilities, eventually establishing a factory for domestic production of these weapons.
Recent reports suggest that Russian production facilities could generate around 6,000 drones annually by May 2024. There’s speculation of a $1.75 billion deal with Iran, which may also involve training personnel from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard to operate these drones, supported by agents linked to Hezbollah.
Ukraine has also targeted a Russian drone production facility in Izhevsk recently, striking a site over 800 miles from its borders, indicating its intent to disrupt these operations. The attack caused injuries and led to evacuations at the site involved.
