While the Ukrainian military continues to attack in several directions in the Donbas and southern Ukraine as part of its large-scale counteroffensive, the Russian forces continue to attack Ukraine with long-range munitions, including deadly suicide drones.
Swarms of Suicide Drones
The Russian military has been using Iranian-made suicide drones to strike urban centers and critical infrastructure. Thus far, the Russian forces have launched thousands of suicide drones against the Ukrainian forces.
As Russian forces are becoming increasingly dependent on suicide drones for strikes, the Russian Ministry of Defense is looking to ensure a long-term supply of loitering munitions.
“In recent months, Russia has highly likely worked to ensure its long-term, high-volume supply of one-way-attack uncrewed aerial vehicles (OWA-UAVs),” the British Military Intelligence assessed in a recent estimate of the war.
By supplying suicide drones to Moscow, Tehran is breaching the United Nations Security Council’s Resolution 2231.
However, for a country already on the fringe of the international community because of its illegal nuclear arms program, supplying lethal aid to a country that invaded its neighbor without a legitimate cause is expected.
Russia is looking to establish a long-term supply chain of suicide drones and is moving away from small deliveries by air transport to large shipments by ship through the Caspian Sea.
In addition to buying suicide drones, the Kremlin is looking to stand up its own production of loitering munitions, most likely with Iranian know-how.
“Russia is also working to start domestic production of OWA-UAVs, almost certainly with Iranian assistance,” the British Military Intelligence added.
In many ways, the war in Ukraine has been one of drones. Both sides are using strategic and tactical unmanned aerial systems in very large numbers for a variety of different mission sets. From kinetic strikes to reconnaissance to fire observers for artillery, drones are playing an integral part in the tactics of both militaries.
“Russia is highly likely investing in OWA-UAVs because it provides Russia with a relatively cheap long-range strike capability at a time when it has expended a large proportion of its cruise missile stocks in Ukraine,” the British Military Intelligence added.
The Western sanctions have taken a heavy toll on the Russian defense and aerospace industries. Shortages in materials and technology, particularly semiconductors, have forced the Russian Ministry of Defense to cannibalize older weapon systems or even scavenge through toasters and laundry machines for the key semiconductors that act as the brain of ballistic and cruise missiles.
Although suicide drones can’t replace ballistic and cruise missiles on a one-to-one ratio, they are still lethal and can cause damage. They can also distract air defenses and open the way for larger munitions.
The Iranian Drone Program
Iran maintains an active and energetic unmanned aerial system program.
Since the 1980s, Tehran has poured money and expertise into its drone program and has a fairly decent fleet of unmanned aerial systems that can conduct a variety of mission sets, including kinetic strikes and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR).
A 19FortyFive Defense and National Security Columnist, Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations, a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ), and a Johns Hopkins University graduate. His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.
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