Russia's Deepening Drone Partnership with Iran: Costs, Modifications, and Production

Reports indicate Russia's reliance on Iranian-made Shahed-136 kamikaze drones is expanding beyond imports. Leaked documents suggest Russia is establishing a domestic production line to manufacture these drones and potentially enhance their capabilities.

Key Takeaways from the Leaks​

• Enhanced Warhead: Russia may be developing Shahed-136 variants carrying warheads nearly double the standard 50kg capacity. The effectiveness of this modification remains unknown.
• Inflated Costs: Leaked documents reveal Russia might be paying far more per drone than previously reported. Prices range from $193,000 to $375,000 per unit, contradicting earlier estimates of $20,000-$50,000.
• Domestic Production: Russia appears to be setting up its own Shahed-136 factory with a projected capacity of 6,000 drones. The Alabuga Special Economic Zone in central Russia is the likely location of this operation.
• Gold for Drones: Russia may be paying for Iranian drones partly with gold. Leaked documents show at least two instances where gold ingots were exchanged as payment.
• Advanced Variants: Iran is developing more sophisticated Shahed drones. Russia has shown interest in new models featuring jet engines, homing devices, and reconnaissance capabilities.

What is a Shahed-136?​

The Shahed-136 is an Iranian-made low-cost, one-way attack drone. Russia has used them with devastating effect in the Ukraine war, primarily targeting civilian infrastructure. Also known as "lawnmowers" or "flying mopeds" due to their noisy engine, these drones carry relatively small payloads but are produced and deployed in mass quantities.

Iran's Role​

These leaked documents further solidify reports of Iran supplying Russia with military resources. It is believed that an Iranian front company, Sahara Thunder, handles the drone sales and technology transfer to Russia. This company's email servers were allegedly breached by the Prana Network hacker group, leading to the document leak.

The Importance of this Information​

While leaked information must be approached with some caution, this data provides a detailed look into:

• Russia's commitment to using Iranian drone technology in its war on Ukraine.
• Potential escalation of military capabilities through weapon modification.
• Shockingly high costs involved in Russia's drone acquisitions.
• Establishment of domestic drone manufacturing by Russia, possibly to reduce reliance on imports.

This evolving story highlights the complex partnership between Russia and Iran and the growing threat of advanced drone warfare.

 

[sanket]

Lancent was tooo very Effective , it destroys costly western Tanks which they over hyped & and according to some Forum Experts they are very Superior to Russian Tanks .

 

[Hari Sud]

Why is it bothering Americans when they are funding Ukraine with $60 billion recently appropriated and $80 billion spent previously.

 

[Abhijeet Darade]

The Shahed drones greatest strength is its relatively basic and simple construction, that allows it to carry out strikes at very low cost. In fact to shoot it down by anything other than a Self--Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun (SPAAG), is a economically unfeasible. The Ukraine found the hard way that the victories they were celebrating in shooting down Shahed that costs just about $20000 with Avenger SHORAD system or IRST system was a foolish decision. Russia intentionally fired them to exhaust the Ukrainian stockpile for anti-aircraft missile systems.

However, to even develop something that simple and cheap, takes enormous creativity and out of box thinking. Had it been our DRDO they would have unnecessarily complicated the design by trying to develop advanced gas turbine engine or a fuel efficient Wankel rotary engine ( which itself is not possible due to its inherent design limitations) and when they would have obviously hit snag they would then have delayed the project by 2-3 decades trying to address faults.

 

[Pink Panther]

The Shahed drones greatest strength is its relatively basic and simple construction, that allows it to carry out strikes at very low cost. In fact to shoot it down by anything other than a Self--Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun (SPAAG), is a economically unfeasible. The Ukraine found the hard way that the victories they were celebrating in shooting down Shahed that costs just about $20000 with Avenger SHORAD system or IRST system was a foolish decision. Russia intentionally fired them to exhaust the Ukrainian stockpile for anti-aircraft missile systems.

However, to even develop something that simple and cheap, takes enormous creativity and out of box thinking. Had it been our DRDO they would have unnecessarily complicated the design by trying to develop advanced gas turbine engine or a fuel efficient Wankel rotary engine ( which itself is not possible due to its inherent design limitations) and when they would have obviously hit snag they would then have delayed the project by 2-3 decades trying to address faults.

They have a jet powered Saheed variant also, Our DRDO drone tech is not even close to NK, forget about IRAN who are one of the bests when it comes to drone.

 

[Mohamed Suleiman]

Iran and Turkiye produce the best drones. Israel's former air force chief recently commented to acknowledge that Iran is the world super power in drones abd missiles. Turkiye, a middle power rising fast, is approximately similar to Iran, I feel. Turkiye is supplying to Ukraine and many others, and Iran to Russia, China, and North Korea. Russia has made extensive use of Iran drones and one type of missile.

 

[Sridhar]

The Shahed drones greatest strength is its relatively basic and simple construction, that allows it to carry out strikes at very low cost. In fact to shoot it down by anything other than a Self--Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun (SPAAG), is a economically unfeasible. The Ukraine found the hard way that the victories they were celebrating in shooting down Shahed that costs just about $20000 with Avenger SHORAD system or IRST system was a foolish decision. Russia intentionally fired them to exhaust the Ukrainian stockpile for anti-aircraft missile systems.

However, to even develop something that simple and cheap, takes enormous creativity and out of box thinking. Had it been our DRDO they would have unnecessarily complicated the design by trying to develop advanced gas turbine engine or a fuel efficient Wankel rotary engine ( which itself is not possible due to its inherent design limitations) and when they would have obviously hit snag they would then have delayed the project by 2-3 decades trying to address faults.

There is a saying " successful people do ordinary things in an extraordinary way" . The team you mentioned do the opposite. That's why success eludes them.

 

[Abhijeet Darade]

There is a saying " successful people do ordinary things in an extraordinary way" . The team you mentioned do the opposite. That's why success eludes them.

Absolutely! One thing DRDO knows is to set almost unachievable goals with respect to unrealistic technology development for the project and then fleece government funds over its protracted development schedule.

 

[Sridhar]

They have a jet powered Saheed variant also, Our DRDO drone tech is not even close to NK, forget about IRAN who are one of the bests when it comes to drone.

Agreed! A turbojet would have been too simple and mundane for DRDO and they would have set themselves the unrealistic target of first developing a highly efficient turbofan and then miniaturizing it. One thing they know all too well is to set fantastical development timelines and then get government funds sanctioned and then continue delays siting complexities in developing the technology.

 

[Sunnyj]

It’s using coronastan engine now and composites with foam, getting Russified more n more in components but Ukraine not behind using cellphones with noise recorders atop high mobile towers etc to give targeting info plus EW to make shaheds fly higher for easier detection. Cat n mouse game.

 

[alpha numeric]

Iran and Turkiye produce the best drones. Israel's former air force chief recently commented to acknowledge that Iran is the world super power in drones abd missiles. Turkiye, a middle power rising fast, is approximately similar to Iran, I feel. Turkiye is supplying to Ukraine and many others, and Iran to Russia, China, and North Korea. Russia has made extensive use of Iran drones and one type of missile.

Turks outrank the Iranians any day. Iranian tech is rudimentary. The engines they use in Shahed is sourced from the Chinese(I think it's a German design, could be wrong.)