Iranian drones fighting in Ukraine have US DNA

The budding Iranian-Russian defense partnership has been amplified by recent military equipment exchanges. The two rogue allies, largely isolated from the international community, have turned to each other to fulfill their defense needs.

Iran has become Russia’s top unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) supplier, providing lethal drones to be used in the ongoing Ukraine invasion. In December, one of the Iranian attack drones used in Ukraine was discovered to contain parts from more than one dozen American companies.

Last week, the United Kingdom-based organization Conflict Armament Research (CAR) revealed the extent to which Tehran has used U.S. and other Western technology in its drone manufacturing enterprise. The organization discovered that the Shahed-136 lethal UAVs sold to Moscow are powered by illicitly acquired German technology. Western officials are also concerned that the Kremlin could share information on Western-made military equipment left behind in Ukraine with their Iranian counterparts.

What Parts Were Found and How Did They Get There?

When a single Russian-launched UAV was discovered to be comprised of components manufactured by U.S. and Western companies, the White House created a task force to investigate how. American-made semiconductors, engines, and GPS modules were among the parts found in this Iranian UAV. Additionally, other components were linked to manufacturing companies based in Canada, Switzerland, Japan, Taiwan, and China, according to a Ukrainian intelligence assessment.

In response to this bombshell finding, NSC spokesperson Adrienne Watson told CNN in a statement that “We are looking at ways to target Iranian UAV production through sanctions, export controls, and talking to private companies whose parts have been used in the production. We are assessing further steps we can take in terms of export controls to restrict Iran’s access to technologies used in drones.”

Several of the companies listed as contributors to the drone’s makeup condemned the illicit use of their products, claiming that there is no available evidence that suggests they intentionally exported their technology to Iran.

CAR discovered that the German technology used to power the Iranian-made UAVs was illegally acquired roughly two decades ago. Many of the other Western parts discovered were chips or simple electronic components that are not necessarily developed for military use but can have military applications. While the U.S. and other Western nations possess stricter export controls on Iran, these guidelines have fluctuated since the Islamic Revolution in 1979.

How Lethal is the Shahed Family of Drones?

While the Iranian regime has frequently denied sending over its Shahed family of lethal drones to the Kremlin, footage depicting these loitering munitions on the battlefield in Ukraine suggests otherwise. The White House first revealed that Russian delegations had visited Iran’s Karshan airfield over the summer and released images of the officials viewing a selection of homegrown UAVs. By the fall, Iranian soldiers began training Russian fighters on how to use the drones. Industry experts predict that Moscow has already received hundreds of Iranian drones since this period.

The single drone discovered to contain Western components was a Shahed-136 kamikaze drone. Built by the Iranian company HESA, these UAVs are not particularly the most advanced killer drones on the market. However, they are extremely cheap to produce, making them a prime import for Moscow amidst its economic limitations at the moment.

The Shahed-136 is particularly cheap due to its design. The UAV features a wooden two-blade pusher propeller and a synthetic formaldehyde resin-flying wing. These materials help reduce the drone’s radar signature because they are less radar-reflective than the materials used in similar UAVs. Additionally, with a range of a few thousand kilometers, this lethal drone can easily reach any target in Ukraine. According to the Institute for Science and International Security, the drone is launched by a catapult system, or from pre-filled containers fired off the backs of vehicles using an ejectable rocket assist system.

Iranian-Russian relations have blossomed throughout the last year of the Ukrainian invasion. Not only do Tehran’s drone shipments to Moscow give the country a stronger ally, but also highlight the country’s ambitions. Iran is hoping to emerge as a top drone manufacturer across the region and even plans to establish a UAV factory in Russia.