How Cheap Are They... Why Russia, Running Out of Resources and Missiles, Is Increasing Iran-Made Suicide Drones

$20,000 Including Warhead... 1/50th Price of Missiles
Used by Middle Eastern Rebel Forces Including Yemen's Houthi Rebels

On the 17th (local time), the Ukrainian government released images of a Russian suicide drone. The drone was confirmed to be the Iranian-made Shahed-136 drone imported by Russia from Iran. The Ukrainian military stated that Russia first used this drone on the 13th of last month. Kyiv (Ukraine) = AP·Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Controversy is escalating as the suicide drones used by Russia in the Kyiv airstrike have been identified as the Iranian-made 'Shahed-136.' Amid growing international criticism of Iran, which has denied providing weapons support to Russia, concerns are rising that Russia, facing severe depletion of war materials and funds, will increasingly rely on the inexpensive Iranian drones.

The Iranian drone in question is evaluated as a highly cost-effective weapon, costing only about 1/50th the price of a conventional ballistic missile, including the warhead. It is known that various militia forces across the Middle East, including the Yemeni Houthi rebels, have received manufacturing techniques from Iran and are utilizing these drones in combat.

Russia Increases Use of Iranian 'Kamikaze Drones'... Range 700km

[Image source=AP·Yonhap News]

On the 17th (local time), a suicide drone attack by Russia in downtown Kyiv, Ukraine, resulted in the deaths of eight civilians and partial destruction of houses and buildings. Vitali Klitschko, mayor of Kyiv, strongly condemned Russia's suicide drone attack, stating, "Among the deceased were young couples, including a pregnant woman six months along."

The United States and Western authorities estimate that the drones used in Russia's suicide drone attacks are the Iranian-made Shahed-136, commonly referred to as 'kamikaze drones.' According to The Washington Post (WP), these drones were produced last year by the Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company (HESA), with a flight range of 2,500 km and a maximum operational range of 700 km, capable of carrying a 36 kg warhead. They possess power comparable to small ballistic missiles.

However, their price is much cheaper than ballistic missiles. According to WP, the cost of one drone, including the warhead, is around $20,000 (approximately 28 million KRW), which is only 1/50th the price of ballistic missiles that cost about $1 million. The drones are small, measuring between 2 to 3 meters, and fly at low altitudes below 100 meters, making them difficult to detect by radar.

As a result, Middle Eastern militia forces, including the Yemeni Houthi rebels who are backed by Iran, frequently use these drones in combat. According to CNN, in 2019, the Houthi rebels used Iranian drones to bomb the Abqaiq oil facility, Saudi Arabia's largest refinery. After receiving drone manufacturing technology from Iran, the Houthi rebels manufacture drones themselves at a cost of about $20 to $30 per unit, using them in combat and terrorist activities.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Russia, Facing Shortages in Supplies and Budget, May Intensify Drone Attacks

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Concerns are also emerging that Russia, struggling with shortages of war materials and funds due to the prolonged Ukraine war, will increasingly focus on Iranian drone attacks. The New York Times (NYT) analyzed, "Iranian drones, which are difficult to use for precision strikes, are insufficient to stop the Ukrainian forces," and added, "Russia's use of Iranian drones to target Ukrainian civilian sites can be interpreted as a sign that missile stocks have been depleted."

The Ukrainian authorities have called on the West to impose additional sanctions against Iran. Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to the Ukrainian presidential office, stated on Twitter, "Iran is providing weapons of mass destruction. The sanctions are insufficient." Ukrainian authorities estimate that Russia has imported at least 2,400 drones from Iran.

Western countries plan to expedite the provision of air defense weapons to defend against Russia's drone attacks. Following the United States' announcement to supply the advanced surface-to-air missile system NASAMS-2, Germany has pledged to send IRIS-T surface-to-air missiles, and Spain has announced it will provide the Hawk system.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.