Iran is modifying attack drones supplied to Russia to cause the greatest damage to infrastructure facilities on the territory of Ukraine.

The unexploded warhead of an Iranian Shahed-131 drone discovered in the Odesa region in October 2022, according to CNN, was investigated in January by the British investigative organization Conflict Armament Research together with the Ukrainian military.

The group’s analysts believe that the warheads, which are about 60 cm long, were hastily modified with layers of dozens of small metal fragments that are poorly fitted to each other and that scatter over a large radius upon impact. In addition to these fragments, there are 18 smaller charges around the warhead, which, when melted, are capable of piercing armor and creating a kind of 360-degree explosive effect.

The accumulation of these elements significantly increases the warhead’s ability to destroy the equipment of power plants, distribution networks, power lines and transformers. They also greatly complicate repair work.

Warheads designed for combat targets, such as tanks or artillery guns, have a different design: they have a frontal cumulative charge that hits more concentrated targets. The warhead studied by CAR creates a radial cumulative effect, leading to a larger area of ​​damage.

The Iranian-made drones deployed in Ukraine contain a significant number of American and Western components, prompting the Biden administration to investigate how American-made technology finds its way into the weapons. Studying the Shahed-131 warhead has helped analysts better understand how Iran makes its drones.

“There has been a lot of speculation that maybe these explosives were very crude, cheap and simple. Looking at the warhead, it’s clear that a lot of effort has gone into making sure it can do as much damage as possible to infrastructure over a large radius.”

Russia’s military has become increasingly reliant on drones in its campaign against critical infrastructure in Ukraine — so much so that its stockpile of drones is running out, just months after Iran began supplying them. According to rumors, Russia and Iran have agreed on the creation of a factory for the production of drones on the territory of Russia.

Ukrainian engineers have developed new Spire drones that destroy Russian drones and armored vehicles (Bonus: video of FPV drones working for the occupiers)