Eventually, russia received UAVs from Iran and started to apply them against Ukraine’s defenders. These are Iranian Shahed-136 kamikaze drone. Its wreckage has already been made public by one of the soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Despite the fact that russians tried to disguise its approval by applying inscriptions in the Russian language, the shape of the wing fragments indicates that this is Shahed-136.
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In particular, the inscription M412 (most likely the serial number) and the "russian name" Geran-2 are even applied on the standard place instead of the Iranian “Shahed-136” name, on the extremely characteristic winglets at the ends of the wings.
Defense Express notes that the information about this drone is quite limited and based on data from Iran itself. Therefore, the drone specs should be taken with certain skepticism.
In particular, the real flight range of up to 2.5 thousand km is questionable, taking into account drone’s weight of about 200 kg and a wingspan of 2.5 meters and a 50-horsepower motor. By the way, the MD 550 engine itself is sold even on AliExpress, and given the sub-sanctions of Iran, most likely, all other components of the drone are also civilian.
As for the Shahed-136's guidance means, most likely, it is equipped with only civilian-class satellite navigation and can only strike stationary objects. There is no information about the power of the warhead, but it can hardly be more than 25% of the weight, given the total weight of the drone of 200 kg.
At the same time, the use of this drone filmed by Iran cannot serve as a credible sourse because of possible "additional pyrotechnic effects". Iranian propaganda has been repeatedly caught using them.
More details about the general capabilities and real combat value of Shahed-136 will be available after receiving additional information.
Defense Express reminds that before this event there had been information that russia ordered drones of a completely different class, allegedly Shahed 129, Mohajer-6 or Shahed 171.
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