Shahed-236 First Presentation of New Attack Drone in Russia Ahead of Potential Use in Ukraine.

For the first time, the Iranian Shahed-236 attack drone, equipped with an optical guidance system, was unveiled in Russia. On September 19, the Russian news agency RIA Novosti released images of this new development, marking a significant step in cooperation between Russia and Iran in drone technology.
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Presentation of the Shahed-236 in Saint Petersburg, on September 19, 2024 .(Picture source: RIA)

Russian President Vladimir Putin was introduced to the new drone, alongside other Russian-made unmanned systems like the Zala Lancet and Orlan-10, during a visit to the "Special Technological Center" in Saint Petersburg. The Shahed-236, similar in design to the Shahed-136 but with a modified front section, appears to feature an optical system, enhancing its target acquisition and guidance capabilities.

The Shahed-236 retains a design close to its predecessor but adds an optical station that allows for autonomous target searching while also giving the operator the option to manually guide the drone. According to an analysis published earlier this year, leaked documents revealed intentions to localize the production of this drone in Russia. The Shahed-236, designated as MC-236 in these documents, is capable of conducting night flights and successfully hitting a predetermined target with an accuracy of 3 to 5 meters.

During tests, the operator selected one of four targets (6x3 meter containers), which the drone's guidance system successfully locked onto as requested. A demonstration also highlighted the use of a full unmanned system, which includes not only the Shahed-236 but also a relay drone and a control station. This complete system has a maximum range of 220 kilometers.

The operating principle of the Shahed-236 attack drone (Picture source: Militarnyi)

However, leaked documents mentioned an estimated cost for the Russian market, pricing the Shahed-236 at around $900,000, significantly higher than the $193,000 paid for a Shahed-136 in 2022. This increase could be attributed to costs related to localization or licensed production.

It is also worth noting that Iran had previously released images showing the use of the Shahed drone equipped with an optical guidance system, confirming its advanced deployment.

In early 2024, a hacker group named PRANA Network breached the servers of an Iranian company affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), revealing documents about the localization of Shahed-236 drone production in Russia. The documents indicated plans to produce 107 drones at Russian facilities in the Alabuga Special Economic Zone.

A Russian delegation, including specialists from Alabuga JSC, visited Iran in April 2023 to facilitate technology transfer, obtain source codes, and demonstrate the capabilities of several drones, including the Shahed-236. This trip was part of a broader effort to organize production and train personnel for drone manufacturing in Russia.

The leaked documents detailed various drone tests, including the Shahed-236 equipped with an optical sensor and an internal combustion engine, which successfully completed its flight and hit targets with an accuracy of 3 to 5 meters. Other models, such as a jet-powered version of the Shahed-236 and a reconnaissance drone called "107," were also successfully tested. The "107" drone demonstrated impressive capabilities, including a flight range of 80 kilometers and the ability to track moving targets from an altitude of 3,000 meters.

The localization of Shahed-236 production in Russia is reportedly already underway, with plans to use the same production lines for different drone variants. The estimated costs for these drones vary: $900,000 for the Shahed-236 with a guidance system, $1.4 million for the jet-powered version, and $460,000 for the "107" reconnaissance drone. Future developments may include a version of the Shahed-236 equipped with a communication relay system to extend the range of other drones.

Specifications of the Shahed-236 drone (Picture source: Militarnyi)