Russia unveils upgraded Shahed drones in Ukraine attacks
The Russians attacked Ukraine with a new version of the popular Shahed-136 drones. According to the Defence Express portal, this is already the fourth known variant of Iranian drones used by the Russian Federation's army.
Russian forces are continually developing and expanding the Shahed-136 drone arsenal, known in Russia as Geran 2, which they use for coordinated attacks on Ukraine. During one of the recent attacks (on 18 January 2025), Ukrainian air defence shot down a completely new variant of this drone. This is the fourth version, designated as series Ъ.
Russians are upgrading their kamikaze drones
In the photo shared by Defence Express, it is visible that the drone is marked with Ъ and a serial number exceeding 200, suggesting that over 200 units of this type have already been produced. There is no additional information about this new variant.
Currently, most Shahed drones sent by Russia to Ukraine are marked as series Ы. At the end of December one of them had the serial number "Ы 11934", suggesting that Russia may have achieved a monthly production of 2,000 Shaheds and produced approximately 10,000 in 2024.
The fourth variant of Shaheds
The discovery of the series Ъ signifies the fourth known variation of Shahed-136/131. Earlier versions include series M, followed by the upgraded Ы and K, with many components manufactured in Russia. It is unknown what modifications were introduced in version Ъ.
The Russian military industry has introduced a series of improvements in all series since their first appearance on the Ukrainian front. Since autumn 2024, the Russians have been systematically equipping Shaheds with thermobaric warheads, Starlink terminals, and updated satellite navigation modules.
Iranian Shahed drones
It is worth recalling that Shahed-136 drones are known for their simple design and relatively low production costs. According to available information, the unit price of these unmanned aerial vehicles is about $20,000. These devices have a distinctive open-wing delta shape. They reach a length of approximately 3.4 metres, with a wingspan of 2.4 metres. They can carry combat loads weighing up to 40 kilograms. The Limbach L550E engine used in them allows them to reach a maximum speed of about 185 km/h. This specification makes them effective in various military applications.
