For months now, in the Ukraine war, Russia has also been using drones supplied by Iran, which detonate explosive devices at their destination.
In the war of aggression against Ukraine, the Russian army has increasingly relied on attacks by Iranian combat drones since early autumn. According to Ukrainian commanders, this is the Shahed-136 type. After Iran initially vehemently denied a delivery, the Foreign Office admitted in early November that it had delivered kamikaze drones to Russia – although this was before the war.
The Shahed-136 drones have a warhead that weighs around 40 kilograms and an engine with which they can travel up to 2,000 kilometers. For months, drones have carried out attacks against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and other targets. By doing so, they created fear among the population. According to Ukrainian sources, however, no Shahed drone has been sighted since mid-November, as “Insider” reports.
Iran’s Drones Fight the Cold
“Russia has not used Iranian drones since November 17, when snow fell for the first time this winter,” said Yevgeny Silkin of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Silkin sees winter weather conditions as the reason. With the first snow, temperatures are unlikely to rise above freezing until the New Year. For Shahed drones, which are made of plastic and other non-cold-resistant materials, the cold could mean disruption to operations.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian state-owned arms company Ukroboronprom says it is working on a drone based on the Iranian model in terms of functionality. The unmanned aerial vehicle would have a range of 1,000 kilometers and, according to the manufacturer, is equipped with a 75-kilogram warhead. The first tests have already been carried out with the drone, which is being developed on behalf of the Ukrainian General Staff. The company plans to carry out the first combat tests by the end of the year, according to the Ukrainian news portal “Ukrinform”.
Navigation account np Hour06.12.2022, 10:16| Act: 12.06.2022, 11:02 am