Ukrainian Intelligence: Russia continues to upgrade its Shahed drones with Chinese technology
The Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) has reported that it has discovered foreign components in Russian weapons, including attack drones used by Russia to attack Ukrainian infrastructure.
Here's What We Know
According to the DIU, since the beginning of 2025, experts have recorded significant changes in the design of the Shahed-136, which is known in Russia as the Geranium-2.
Thus, the drones received a new warhead weighing 90 kg, and the flight controller, power distribution unit and battery were moved to the tail section. Ballast has been added to the design.
A sticker with markings in Chinese and English was found on the secure 8-channel CRP satellite navigation antenna with circular peripheral patch antennas: Agricultural equipment parts, indicating production in 2024. The manufacturing method and the colour of the antenna body are similar to Shahed "Y" series components manufactured in Iran and Russia. The sticker is probably used to conceal the true origin of the device.
The drone's electronics. Illustration: GUR
Russia is increasingly using Chinese components instead of parts from the US, EU and other countries. For example, in the new 8-channel Shahed-136 antennas, the Russians replaced the American XILINX Kintex-7 chip with an integrated circuit made by Beijing Microelectronics Technology (China).
To capture and transmit video of the target's defeat, the Russians use disposable Telegram bots, a Raspberry Pi minicomputer, a webcam, and 3G/LTE modems.
The wreckage of the Shahed by Kommersant. Illustration: GUR
Gerbera drones, which previously performed a simulation function, are now equipped with OFBCH-2.5 warheads (manufactured by the Basalt plant) and KZ-6 engineering ammunition. The warhead is activated via a RUICHI SSR-10DD solid-state relay connected to the flight controller.
The Russian Federation is also setting up production of an analogue of the Shahed-238, the Geranium-3. It is equipped with a small-sized Tolou-10/13 turbojet twin-circuit engine, which provides speeds of up to 550-600 km/h and a range of up to 2500 km.
The Gerbera drone. Illustration: GUR
By the way, information on foreign technologies that help Russia produce weapons for war is regularly updated on the WarSanctions portal. The database already contains 4,400 identified components in Russian weapons, 140 types of UAVs and 88 companies involved in their production.
The DIU emphasises that there are effective mechanisms to create a "component famine" in the Russian military-industrial complex. Sanctions, export controls, compliance, KYC and CHPL can limit the aggressor's access to critical technologies.
Source: GUR
