On Monday morning, explosions shook the metropolis of Kiev again. The Russian army again attacked the Ukrainian capital. According to Ukrainian authorities, Iranian kamikaze drones were used. These weapons of war harbor great potential for danger. They have a long reach and cost little. And that’s exactly why Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin (70) relies on these deadly drones.
On the front, Russian forces have used the machines before — at least since August, according to British intelligence. In September, Shahed-136 models flew over Ukrainian positions in the northeastern region of Kharkiv. Photos showed the remains of the kamikaze weapons: the drones were repainted in Russian colors and labeled “Geran 2”.
Military experts fear Iranian weapons could cause trouble for Ukrainians. Scott Crino, a former U.S. military lieutenant colonel, told The Wall Street Journal that Iran’s Shahed-136 drones — in contrast to Russia’s rather flimsy drone technology — could provide a “strong counterweight” to the Western world. weapon systems of Ukraine. “Using the Shahed-136 in the war in Ukraine will undoubtedly change Kiev’s operational plans,” Crino said.
$20,000 per drone
The Shahed 136 drone can travel up to 2,500 kilometers. Its range makes the Iranian kamikaze drone dangerous, Samuel Bendett, drone expert at the US Center for Naval Analysis, explains to “Mirror”: The drone can hit targets in tactical range, such as multiple Himar missile launchers within a radius of Operating 70 kilometers close to the front. Recently, the smaller Shahed-131 drones have also been in use, as found in the Kiev document. These have a range of about 900 kilometers.
According to Interior Minister Denys Monastyrskyj, about 40 drones were used in the renewed attack on Kiev. No wonder: the flying killer must be relatively cheap. Although the purchase price is a secret, military expert Samuel Cranny-Evans estimates it at about $20,000 for a Shahed 136 drone, as he tells the Spanish newspaper “El Pais”. In comparison, the Turkish Bayraktar TB2 combat drone costs about two million dollars.
Ukrainian intelligence estimates that the Kremlin has ordered about 2,400 Iranian drones. The Iranian government, on the other hand, claims not to have supplied any kamikaze drones to Russia, according to Reuters news agency.
The fact is, the Russians have plenty and use them. Ukraine’s air defenses are strong, but it is impossible to eliminate all drones. “The Russians don’t have to worry about the numbers and could cause significant wear and tear on the Ukrainians in the event of further attacks,” drone expert Bendett told Mirror. Especially since the air defense is already working at the limit, having to spend extra resources and ammunition against the kamikaze drones is problematic.
US wants to help hunt drones
The fact that the drones are so cheap has its price. The equipment is described as rudimentary. The camera and sensors are not of good quality. Unlike other drones, the Iranian model simply flies to the entered coordinates. Therefore, the kamikaze drones are suitable for attacks on stationary targets. In addition, the Kamikaze drones are considered easy targets for defense systems. According to the British Secret Service, conventional air defenses make it easy to shoot down the slow and low-flying drones.
International allies want to help counter the swarm attacks by kamikaze drones. Shortly after the arrival of the Shahed drones, the US announced their Titan anti-drone system. The system has an artificial intelligence that locates drones and proposes the cheapest solution.
The Ukrainians hope this will allow them to choose more efficient ways to defend themselves and forgo expensive anti-aircraft missiles. The Vampire system, which also comes from the United States, is more suitable. With a mix of smaller missiles and a jammer, the drone hunt in Ukraine will begin soon.
Developed own combat drone
However, Ukraine also wants to use drones to attack the Russians. According to Defense News, the US will soon deliver Switchblade 600 guided missiles to Ukraine – they are clearly superior to the Iranian models in terms of precision. Delivery is expected in the coming days.
And that’s not all: After the devastating attacks by Iranian kamikaze drones on Monday morning, the Ukrainian arms company Ukroboronprom announced that Ukraine is about to complete its own combat drone. The range of the drone is “about 100 kilometers”, the weight of the warhead is 75 kilograms. According to Ukroboronpro, this drone is currently “close to completion”. Further details were not given. (babe)