Russia’s military is launching thousands of missiles and drones at Ukraine, driving many civilians underground. But where does Russia get its seemingly endless supply of drones? According to Fabian Hoffmann, a military technology expert, Russia initially imported Shahed drone variants from Iran and later set up licensed production agreements with Iranian engineers.
The Russian-licensed production has led to significant upgrades, including the development of their own version called Geran-2. At least six major adaptations have been made to the drones, including painting them black for better nighttime evasion. These drones are slower and less powerful than conventional missiles but aim to saturate the skies and overwhelm defense systems.
Ukraine’s defensive arsenal is quickly depleted as it tries to target these drones using expensive interceptors. President Zelenskyy has called for tougher sanctions, while President Trump promised to send more defensive weapons to Ukraine in response to the renewed Russian aerial onslaught. Experts warn that a winning strategy against Russia’s drone attacks requires targeting drone launch sites and defense industries.
To counter this threat, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued orders to fast-track drone production and deployment, aiming to outpace Russia and China in unmanned warfare. However, sanctions can also disrupt trade and global supply chains, potentially hurting the countries imposing them more than Russia itself.
Source: https://www.foxbusiness.com/fox-news-world/ukraine-under-fire-where-does-russia-get-its-endless-supply-drones-missiles