Ukraine Downs New Iranian Shahed-238 Jet-Powered Drone Used by Russians

Ukrainian air defenses shot down an Iran-developed jet-powered Shahed-238 kamikaze drone employed by Russian forces over Ukrainian airspace.

Photos of the wreckage from the Shahed-238 jet loitering munition were swiftly disseminated on social media, confirming the incident. Military expert and blogger Serhii Beskrestnov, also known as "Flash," corroborated the news, shedding light on the capabilities of the drone.

The downed drone, likely a Shahed-238, was officially unveiled by Iran in November 2023, featuring various guidance systems, including infrared/optical and potentially radar guidance. Beskrestnov revealed that the UAV managed to traverse over half of Ukraine before being intercepted, flying at a speed of over 500 km per hour – almost three times faster than its predecessor, the Shahed-136.

The identification of a fragment marked "MJ0" on the drone body suggested the presence of a jet engine. Speculation arose that the engine could be the TEM Tolue-10, an Iranian clone of the Czech PBS Aerospace TJ100 turbojet engine, commonly found in Iranian cruise missiles.

Despite doubts about the range of these Iranian drones, Beskrestnov affirmed that they can cover the entire country. The Shahed-238's warhead and navigation system closely resemble those of the Shahed-136, previously utilized by Russian invaders against Ukraine. The successful interception by Ukrainian air defense indicated the system's effectiveness.

While Russia had previously claimed a maximum flight speed of 800 km per hour for the Shahed-238, these details remain unconfirmed. The incident raises concerns about the introduction of upgraded Iranian drones in the ongoing conflict, as Russia aims to challenge Kyiv's air defenses.

The Shahed drones, including the Shahed-131 and Shahed-136, have been instrumental for Russian forces in striking Ukrainian targets. The introduction of the Shahed-238, with potential modifications for enhanced stealth and altered guidance systems, adds a new dimension to the conflict.

As Ukraine faces increased drone strikes, officials in Kyiv are actively working on anti-Shahed solutions, focusing on detection and the development of their own long-range drones.