Fire at Russian drone factory: £13m in shahed parts lost
The Ukrainian military intelligence agency, GUR, has reported a fire at a warehouse storing parts for Shahed drones in the Russian city of Alabuga, Tatarstan. The fire reportedly destroyed components worth approximately £13 million, including 65 fuselages, engines, navigation systems, and thermal cameras, which could have been used to produce up to 400 Shahed-136 drones.
The Ukrainian military intelligence, in a post on social media, stated, "The mysterious, devastating fire was another blow dealt to the military-industrial complex of terrorist Russia." GUR added that Russian losses are estimated at £13 million. In the warehouse, located on the premises of the Russian drone factory "Alabuga," which burned down, "there were 65 fuselages of assault drones, as well as engines, navigation systems, and thermal cameras to produce 400 units of Shahed-136."
Russian drone factory on fire
If the reports of losses are indeed confirmed, it could represent a significant setback for the Russians. Shahed-136 drones (referred to as Geran-2 by the Russians) pose a serious threat to Ukraine, targeting both military and civilian locations. Every day, Putin's army sends a considerable number towards Ukraine. As previously reported, experts determined that in November 2024 alone, approximately 80 Shahed-136 drones appeared over Ukraine daily.
The Shahed-136 is an Iranian kamikaze drone classified as loitering munition. It was developed as an affordable and effective solution for conducting attacks on ground targets. The drone measures about 3.4 metres in length, with a wingspan of approximately 2.4 metres, and weighs around 200 kilograms. It is powered by an MD-550 piston engine with 50 horsepower, mounted at the rear of the fuselage, allowing it to reach a maximum speed of about 185 km/h. The range of the Shahed-136 is estimated to be nearly 1,000 kilometres, though some sources suggest even 2,000 kilometres.
The Shahed-136 carries a warhead weighing between 30 and 50 kilograms. It is launched from platforms that can be mounted on vehicles, providing substantial mobility. These unmanned aerial vehicles are equipped with technologies that disrupt their detection by air defence systems. This, combined with their small size and quiet engine operation, makes the Shahed-136 difficult to detect.
Russia acquired these drones from Iran and uses them under the name Geran-2. In August 2023, the first reports emerged that Russia had begun producing its own Shahed-136 drones, introducing specific improvements, such as using Kometa electronic modules previously used in Russian reconnaissance drones.
