MIflyer
Major
Who would have thought the Russians would have to build drones developed by a country like Iran?
From Aviation Week/Tony Osbourne
Russia has begun using domestically produced versions of Iran's Shahed one-way attack (OWA) uncrewed air systems (UAS), independent researchers and the UK Defense Ministry have stated.
Thousands of Iranian-supplied delta-winged Shahed-136 air systems have been imported by Russia and used as part of its ongoing offensive in Ukraine since September 2022, but now it seems Russia is seeking a level of self-sufficiency in the capability.
Often launched in salvoes, the low-cost system has not only been used to strike targets, but also as a means to draw out and use up Ukraine's stocks of ground-based air defense weaponry.
According to the UK Defense Ministry, indigenous manufacture will allow Russia to "establish a more reliable supply" of the OWA-UAS.
Currently, production relies on components and systems from Iran shipped via the Caspian Sea, but Russia is aiming for self-sufficiency in production, the UK ministry says.
From Aviation Week/Tony Osbourne
Russia has begun using domestically produced versions of Iran's Shahed one-way attack (OWA) uncrewed air systems (UAS), independent researchers and the UK Defense Ministry have stated.
Thousands of Iranian-supplied delta-winged Shahed-136 air systems have been imported by Russia and used as part of its ongoing offensive in Ukraine since September 2022, but now it seems Russia is seeking a level of self-sufficiency in the capability.
Often launched in salvoes, the low-cost system has not only been used to strike targets, but also as a means to draw out and use up Ukraine's stocks of ground-based air defense weaponry.
According to the UK Defense Ministry, indigenous manufacture will allow Russia to "establish a more reliable supply" of the OWA-UAS.
Currently, production relies on components and systems from Iran shipped via the Caspian Sea, but Russia is aiming for self-sufficiency in production, the UK ministry says.
