It is almost certain that Russia has begun deploying domestically produced drones based on Iranian kamikaze drone designs shahedsaid the Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom in his latest intelligence report.
Domestic production will allow Russia establish a more stable supply of kamikaze drones to be used in airstrikes against Ukraine, the report noted.
Shahed-136 drones in detail
Shahed-136 drones in detail
Although Moscow probably expects to fully return self-sufficient in the manufacture of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), currently relies on components and complete weapons shipped from Iranmainly through Caspian Seathe ministry said .
As the intelligence report pointed out, the drones shahed have so far achieved “variable” results as Ukrainian forces proved capable of intercepting most of the UAV starters.
Russian forces have been using Iranian-made drones to strike targets across Ukraine. In February, the Wall Street Journal He reported that Russia planned to build a factory to produce Iranian-designed drones on Russian soil.
The claim was later endorsed by the spokesman for the National Security Council of USAJohn Kirby, who clarified in June that the plant in the Special Economic Zone of alabuga in Tatarstan it could start working in early 2024.
However, researchers from Conflict Armament Research (CAR) said on August 13 that Russia already started making copies of the drones shahed commonly marked as Geran-2. He CHAR came to this conclusion after inspecting the wreckage of two downed UAVs in southeastern Ukraine.
