The October 24 British Defence Intelligence update says that Ukraine’s efforts at shooting down the Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones are increasingly successful as Russia is likely using these kamikaze drones as a substitute for dwindling stockpiles of its long-range weapons.
- Russia continues to use Iranian uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) against targets throughout Ukraine. “Ukrainian efforts to defeat the Shahed-136 UAVs are increasingly successful, with official sources, including President Zelenskyy, claiming that up to 85% of attacks are being intercepted,” the report reads.
- “These UAVs are slow, noisy and fly at low altitudes, making lone aircraft easy to target conventional air defences.”
- “Russia is likely expending a high number of Iranian Shahed-136 UAVs in order to penetrate increasingly effective Ukrainian air defences.”
- British Defense Intelligence believes that Russia is likely using the Shaheds “as a substitute for Russian-manufactured long-range precision weapons which are becoming increasingly scarce.”
Read also:
Ukraine’s air defenses shot down 16 Iranian-made kamikaze drones in Mykolaiv Oblast last night
Israel destroys Iranian drone factory in Syria – human rights activists
It costs Ukraine roughly 2x more to down Shahed-136 drones than for Russia to send them
Iran now training Russian operators to use Arash-2 drones – Ukraine’s General Staff
Iranian instructors help Russians launch Shahed-136 drone attacks from Belarus
