Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense (MOD) has published a complete breakdown of the make-up and components of the latest modification of the Iranian designed Shahed-136/Geran 2 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) shot down during a Russian mass aerial attack somewhere near the Sumy region on June 17.
As previously reported this latest iteration of the drone appears to be an AI-enhanced, long-range first-person view (FPV) attack drone which could be steered onto its target by a “pilot.” It has now been given the model designation MS001.
The technical details have been included in the Ukrainian MOD sponsored “War & Sanctions” website which reveals the types and origins of the more than 30 components that make up this modernized version of the drone.
The MD550 petrol-fueled piston engine, 90-kilogram (200-pound) warhead, fuselage material and structure along with the internal component layout are all characteristic of Iranian production. However, the UAV also contains modifications that originated in Russia, indicating that there has been a complete exchange of technology between the two.
The drone contains the Russian “Nvidia Jetson Orin” minicomputer, which is optimized for AI enhancement and video processing, previously seen in the V2U attack drone, linked to an infrared camera, which has also been seen in previous Russian equipment.
The computer receives the images produced by the camera and compares it with downloaded geographical data for both enhanced navigation and target selection that will minimize any electronic warfare interference. In addition the drone contains a radio modem to allow video and two-way telemetry transmission, allowing it to act in an FPV attack mode.
The drone also includes a modernized Iranian “Nasir” eight-channel, jam-proof satellite navigation antenna designed to receive GPS signals. The MOD analysis suggests that this optimized version of the Nasir antenna array has been based on and replaces the eight element Chinese system previously seen in Shaheds of Russian manufacture.
Of concern, as previously seen in the latest Russian drone and missiles, is the inclusion of electronic components that have originated from Western manufacturers from the US, Germany, Taiwan and Switzerland, probably sourced from third parties to avoid sanctions imposed on Moscow and Tehran.
Ukraine’s MOD concludes that the MS001 drone shows the extent of the exchange of technologies between Iran and the Russian Federation which not only has resulted in a potentially more lethal version of the weapon for use in the Russo-Ukrainian War but offers the potential for deployment by Russia’s Iranian allies against targets in the Middle East or other theaters of war.