- Category
- Latest news
The Shahed, Upgraded: Russian Suicide Drones Now With Fragmentation Air-Burst Warheads
- Authors
![Photo of Roman Kohanets]( "Photo of Roman Kohanets")
![Photo of Tetiana Frolova]( "Photo of Tetiana Frolova")
-111f0e5095e02c02446ffed57bfb0ab1.jpeg "Photo of Roman Kohanets")
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.
