-21d0b63c17f6020e4df75f6c6f9a2f4f.jpg "Ivan Khomenko")
Ukraine’s air defense forces recently intercepted a Shahed attack drone from a newly identified series marked as ‘Ъ.’
This discovery, reported by Defense Express on January 18, verified with photographic evidence, suggests that Russia may have introduced its fourth known series of Iranian-designed drones.
According to preliminary information, the ‘Ъ’ series appears to have already reached production numbers exceeding 200 units, based on observed numbering. Specific details about modifications or enhancements in this series remain unclear.
The discovery adds to the known series of Shahed drones used by Russian forces. Earlier series included:
‘M’ series – the initial version deployed.
‘Ы’ series – widely used and featuring several upgrades. Reports suggest that as of December 2024, production rates for this series reached up to 2,000 units per month, potentially yielding an annual output of approximately 10,000 drones.
‘К’ series – featuring significant design changes, incorporating more Russian-manufactured components.
The intercepted drone marked as ‘Ъ’ was downed during a recent missile-and-drone attack. While the exact capabilities and design changes in the new series are not yet confirmed, ongoing patterns suggest a consistent effort by Russia to modify and enhance these unmanned systems. Previous upgrades to Shahed drones include:
The addition of thermobaric warheads.
Integration of advanced satellite navigation modules.
Potential use of Starlink for improved operational capabilities.
Earlier, Ukraine successfully used advanced electronic warfare systems to intercept and redirect Russian Shahed drones by altering their satellite coordinates, sending them back into Russian and Belarusian territory. During a record-breaking attack on November 26, Ukrainian forces shot down 76 drones and diverted 95 using spoofing technology.
