russian occupying forces are using long-range strike unmanned aerial vehicles equipped with dual warheads to attack Ukraine. A photograph of an enemy strike UAV fitted with two high-explosive incendiary BST-52 warheads has appeared online for the first time. The image was initially published by the Telegram channel LandminesAndCoffee.
As a result, the drone's total warhead mass amounts to 100 kg. Defense Express notes that some sources have circulated claims about Shahed drones carrying two 100-kg warheads (a combined 200 kg), which does not reflect reality.
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As emphasized by the Telegram channel war_home, russia has been using drones with dual warheads for roughly a year. Importantly, this refers specifically to Harpiya-A1 strike drones produced by the Izhevsk Electromechanical Plant Kupol, which chose a straightforward solution by integrating two BST-52 warheads into the UAV.
By contrast, Geran-2 strike drones produced at the Alabuga facility are known to have eventually received an enlarged 90-kg warhead. Information about these plans first emerged in the spring of 2024, while the first photographs and confirmations that Shahed drones had indeed received a 90-kg warhead appeared at the beginning of this year.
As for the Harpiya-A1, it was previously reported that production at the Kupol plant began in 2023.
According to the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, the Harpiya has a takeoff weight of 300 kg and a maximum payload capacity of 150 kg. It can reach a maximum speed of up to 185 km/h and is capable of striking targets at ranges of up to 1,500 km.
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