Russia Makes Iranian Shahed-136 Drones More Lethal with Heavier Warhead

The Russian military industry has upgraded the warhead in the Shahed-136 attack drones obtained from Iran to make them lethal, Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR) reported on Feb. 18.

The Shahed-136 drones renamed as Geran-2 in Russia, now feature a heavier warhead and additional ballast installed in the UAV design. The upgraded drone now carries a 90-kilogram warhead, compared to the previous 50-kilogram version. This significantly enhances its destructive capability, Ukrainian media reported.

However, due to the heavier payload, the drone’s range has decreased from 1,350 kilometers to about 650 kilometers, limiting its reach but making it deadlier in closer-range attacks.

The upgrades also includes giving a precision target spotting ability and to evade Ukrainian electronic warfare devides.

The Shahed-136 (Geran-2) has become Russia’s go-to kamikaze due to its low-production cost which makes it suitable for use in drone-swarm strikes in response to Ukaine’s impressive range of attack range.

Shahed-type drones are often used for strikes against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.