How the Shahed drones used by Russia to attack Ukraine work: They evade radars and start fires.

Russia launched its largest-ever retaliation against Ukraine in the early hours of June 6 in response to the attack on its strategic aviation. The Russian military used Iranian-made Shashed drones and Iskander-M ballistic missiles to hit Kiev with a series of airstrikes, which ultimately killed at least four people.

This type of Russian attack is the result of years of work, as the country has had factories producing Shashed drones for subsequent assembly since 2023. This control over production undoubtedly allows Russia to rapidly expand the number of Iranian-designed unmanned aerial vehicles and gradually improve the drones to withstand any threat.

Regarding the latest improvements Russia has made to its Shashed drones, the newspaper El Confidencial reveals that the latest devices are coated with carbon, resist radar detection by absorbing incoming waves, and incorporate SIM cards to transmit data over mobile networks. They also feature incendiary and fragmentation warheads designed to cause fires and disperse large amounts of shrapnel, increasing their effectiveness in combat .

Together, these upgrades have extended the drones' range . They've also increased their survival and lethality rates, using decoys alongside armed drones to maximize the chances of as many devices as possible reaching their targets.

Other drones used by Russia in the Russo-Ukrainian war

Russian state-owned company Rosel, part of the Rosec State Corporation, has begun testing the Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) system for integration into its drones. Weighing less than 90 grams and with low power consumption, the IFF system features a radar identifier installed on the drone, allowing it to communicate with ground stations using the Russian state identification system to identify threatening aerial vehicles .

Furthermore, thanks to its integrated technology, it is capable of identifying unmanned aerial vehicles at an altitude of up to five kilometers and a maximum distance of 100 kilometers.

On the other hand, Russia employs fiber-optic drones to attack enemy troops . These devices are weapons controlled by thin fiber-optic cables, which are deployed during flight to transmit control signals. This makes them immune to electronic interference, increasing their effectiveness in neutralizing conventional drones .

These unmanned aerial vehicles can reach speeds of 60 kilometers per hour, recognize targets with great precision , are effective in targeted attacks, and maintain wire contact without the risk of breakage.

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