Russian UAVs Do Not Meet Military Requirements: MoD Spokesman

Drones produced in Russia do not meet the requirements of the military in terms of their tactical and technical characteristics and thus, the country is in dire need of them, spokesman for the Russian defense ministry Igor Ischuk has said.

The colonel spoke at the round table "Prospects for the development of unmanned vehicle technologies in the Russian Federation,” which is taking place in Moscow.

“The Ministry of Defense has developed appropriate tactical and technical requirements for UAVs. Most manufacturers, unfortunately, are not able to fulfill them. And the main problem of non-fulfillment is the element base,” Ischuk was quoted as saying by topwar.ru.

Russian troops want to procure electronic reconnaissance drones, loitering ammunition and reconnaissance drones. UAVs supplied to the military must be easy to handle, noise-proof and not expensive so that they can be mass-produced.

“These aircraft must, of course, be equipped with radiation warning devices, ‘friend or foe’ systems, they must be easy to handle,” he said.

Russia has reportedly been using Iran-made drones such as Shahed-136 against Ukraine, some of which have been shot down. Commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Major General Hussein Salami has also confirmed that Tehran has sold homegrown weapons to foreign customers, including some “major world powers.”

In retaliation to Iran’s alleged supply of weapons to Ukraine, Kyiv has revoked the accreditation of the Ambassador of Iran to Ukraine.