Russia's drone evolution: Agricultural tech meets warfare
The Russians are attempting to produce and enhance as many Shahed-136 drones as they can. However, there is a shortage of components, leading them to use antennas originally intended for agricultural equipment, which have an unexpected effect. Here, we explore the development of the new Shahed-136 drones.
The Russians deployed Shahed-136 drones in the attacks on 1 January 2025, equipped with Chinese CRPA (Controlled Reception Pattern Antennas) modules from the agricultural sector, instead of the previously used Iranian or Russian "Kometa-M" modules.
Serhij "Flash" Bessetsintow explains that the use of AliExpress-sourced modules might stem from insufficient production in Russia and Iran, as well as an effort to explore alternative options to reduce costs under financial pressure.
The Chinese agricultural modules consist of eight antennas arranged in a circle rather than a row, which has proven effective against Ukrainian jammers. This configuration makes Shaheds equipped with agricultural modules less susceptible to Ukrainian electronic warfare systems.
Shahed-136 drones - Russia's cheap weapon of terror
The Shahed-136 is a straightforward "kamikaze" drone used by the Russians, featuring a design with a delta-shaped wing with a wingspan of about 2.4 metres and two vertical stabilisers. The drone measures approximately 3.5 metres in length, and its production involves using commercially available general-purpose components.
The Shahed-136 weighs around 200 kilograms, with the warhead making up 50 kilograms of that. The remaining weight includes, among other parts, a fuel tank to support a Chinese boxer-type internal combustion engine producing 50 horsepower, which is a replica of the German model LIMBACH L550 E. It is believed that the fuel is sufficient for the Shahed-136 to cover a distance of up to 2,500 kilometres.
The drone's navigation system is basic, allowing it only to fly along a pre-planned route, which restricts its usage to attacks on stationary targets, such as residential areas, due to its low accuracy. It is most often used for psychological operations intended to intimidate city residents or as support for other attack methods, such as cruise missiles.
The Russians occasionally launch hundreds of Shahed drones, which, when properly coordinated with systems such as Ch-101 cruise missiles, can present a challenge to air defence systems. In this confusion of targets, some Ch-101 missiles might penetrate more easily if surrounded by numerous decoys.
Furthermore, the Russians utilise modified Shaheds to track the activity of Ukrainian air defence. The data collected enables them to identify weak spots in Ukrainian defences, which is extremely useful when planning the routes of future strikes.
