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The Shahed, Upgraded: Russian Suicide Drones Now With Fragmentation Air-Burst Warheads
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Russian forces have started fitting Geran-2 (Shahed-type) loitering munitions with a newly observed fragmentation–high-explosive warhead that appears designed for air-burst detonation, increasing the weapon’s lethality against exposed personnel, radar and other soft-skinned targets according to Militarnyi on Octrober 6.
The warhead is a cylindrical assembly about 300 mm in diameter and roughly 375 mm long, marked with factory/lot identifiers and a yellow alignment line.
Investigators report pre-formed fragmentation elements situated in the upper section of the casing. The base of the body shows three fill ports and six threaded bolts intended to secure a 493M inertia-action base fuze.
Photographs and debris analysis indicate the explosive fill is a plastisol-type compound (reports name alternatives such as OLA or LP-30T), though the exact fill mass and full explosive composition have not been confirmed; visually the complete assembly appears to weigh on the order of 50 kg, comparable with other Geran-class warheads.
Photographs and debris analysis indicate the explosive fill is a plastisol-type compound (reports name alternatives such as OLA or LP-30T), though the exact fill mass and full explosive composition have not been confirmed; visually the complete assembly appears to weigh on the order of 50 kg, comparable with other Geran-class warheads.
Ukrainian analysts also reported a LiDAR sensor recovered alongside the warhead, suggesting the device may be configured to detonate at a programmed stand-off height above the target — an air-burst mode intended to maximize the lethal radius of pre-formed fragments. Confirmation of an operational air-burst fuze or programmed height detonation remains provisional.
The modification fits a broader pattern of iterative upgrades to Geran-series drones: Russian production and local modification efforts have produced variants with heavier or specialist warheads, alternative guidance and communications modules, and sensors to enhance survivability and target-effects. Militarnyi Analysts have warned such changes complicate Ukraine’s air defense and force continued adaptation of countermeasures.
Reporting is based on the examination published by Militarnyi and corroborating analysis from open-source defense monitors and think tanks; technical details such as the exact explosive charge, complete fuze design and production volumes have not been independently verified.
Earlier, it was reported that Shahed-type drones have been used to release fragmentation submunitions and time-delayed fragmentation devices designed to maximize delayed-area effects.
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-24ca8683eb01b729cd8fae98f952003a.jpg "Ukrainian Ratel-S drone equipped with a downed Shahed warhead. (Source: omelyanovi4/Instagram)")
-0158b6b681e3668f470de36aedad9e3c.jpg "Russian Su-24 bomber moments before Ukrainian drone strike, Crimea. (Source: HUR)")
