The War&Sanctions portal has released a new dataset detailing foreign components found in russian weaponry, highlighting significant modifications to the Shahed-136 drones used in Ukraine. Since early 2025, intelligence has observed notable changes in the design of the Shahed-136 (also known as Geran-2 or Harpia) drone. These include a newly introduced 90 kg warhead, relocation of critical components, including the flight controller and battery, from the nose to the tail section, additional ballast to adjust weight distribution, and the presence of a tamper-resistant 8-channel CRP satellite navigation antenna, labeled as Agricultural equipment parts in both Chinese and English, likely as an attempt to disguise its true purpose, the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine reports.
Amid tightening Western sanctions, russia has increasingly turned to Chinese-made alternatives for key drone components. A notable example is the replacement of the U.S.-manufactured XILINX Kintex-7 programmable logic device with an integrated circuit from Beijing Microelectronics Technology.
Read more: About Ukrainian Shahed Hunting Tactics and How Poland, North Macedonia, and the Czech Republic Made them Possible
Russian drone production has seen structural expansions. The Alabuga Special Economic Zone has introduced a new Ъ series alongside existing Ы series. The Kupol Electromechanical Plant in Izhevsk has added the KTs series to its prior K and KB models. Russian engineers have also begun deploying upgraded Kometa 12-channel CRP antennas in strike drones.
Russia has integrated disposable Telegram bots, Raspberry Pi mini-computers, webcams, and 3G/LTE modems for target recording and video transmission. Meanwhile, the Gerbera drones, initially used as decoys, are now being equipped with the OFBCh-2.5 warheads and KZ-6 engineering munitions.
Russia is advancing the production of a new jet-powered UAV, the Geran-3, equivalent to the Shahed-238 UAV. Featuring the Tolou-10/13 turbofan engine, this drone boasts a speed of 550-600 km/h and a range of 2,500 km, posing a new challenge to Ukrainian air defenses.
Read more: Ukrainian Defense Forces Attack russian Primorsko-Akhtarsky Airfield From Where russians launch Shahed UAVs
