In war, everything is not a matter money and mathBut numbers are very important. Russia used, for example, in the Russian bombardment across Ukraine last Monday – according to Kyiv– 83 missiles and 17 drones attacking all major cities in the country simultaneously.
83 missiles could cost a little more than that, depending on the model of each. 300 million €. 17 UAVs, 350,000 Euros. Here is the new weapon that Russia brought to the battlefield in Ukraine: Iranian Shahed-136 aircraft. Means ‘sheh’ in Persian martyrand this word perfectly describes the function of these drones: they kamikaze drones. When they hit the target, they detonate their charge.
These planes are neither technologically cutting-edge nor highly effective. your engine, noisy as a teenager on a motorcycle is the same as on a motorcycle mowercan reach speeds of up to 180 kilometers per hour. The explosive charge is light and small and is approx. 2,500 kilometers before crashing. Low tech levels also make them incapable of exploiting. moving and difficult objects – Just like other more advanced drones like Turkish Bayraktar do Ukraine used on the battlefield.
But Shahed’s secret is different: their price funny. Approximate value per unit 20.000 €. “These drones have a huge advantage in what they can do. crush the air defense. At the same time, you can launch 200 kamikaze drones, as well as 10 more expensive cruise or ballistic or hypersonic missiles. Then the anti-aircraft defenses will already mess up, and these missiles may be too much. more effective. So these drones are not 100% replacements for Russian-made ballistic missiles, they are a complete replacement. economics of an attack“, explains analyst and conflict expert William Pulido.
Ukrainian intelligence assured this week that Russia had bought approx. 2,400 Witnesses. According to Pulido, it could be much more. even if they are not strong enough to change the tide of war, These drones can be a headache for Ukrainians.
“The only reason we use shahads is because they fly. in large groups It can confuse air defense. And at this point, it only needs to go through one or two devices,” the analyst writes. Samuel Bendettmember of ‘think tank’ American CNA. “This is the Ukrainians in defensebecause now your logistics, supply lines, communications, warehouses and infrastructure can be attacked,” he adds.
A paradigm shift
When Turkey started successfully using Bayraktar drones in 2020, there were many voices stating that Turkey was also a flag carrier. drones It will change the conflicts of the future—much cheaper than manned planes that cost millions to maintain and cost. Inside SyriaEven, rebel and jihadist groups They made homemade drones with the simplest explosives, but they managed to successfully attack the bases of these planes. Syrian and Russian Army.
For example, Bayraktar has already been sold. 24 countries, and now Shahed is taking the same path. They are much smaller and much less effective than their Turkish rivals. But they are also much more cheap and therefore much more accessible.
“It seems that Shahed has a important accuracyand all of its electronics and drive advertisementThis means that Iran can buy components that circumvent the sanctions at a very reasonable price. This changes the war and competition of powers between countries,” explains Pulido.
“Before, probably just United States of America Y Russia they could hold strategic bombers for large-scale air strikes against an enemy. Now many countries with much less money like Iran or any other country gross domestic product (GDP) Similarly, it can produce thousands of drones and destroy a rival or hostile country’s infrastructure or economy,” the analyst continues.
Inside future conflicts – and from now on – the importance of unmanned vehicles will increase. “The economy and prices are changing the future of war,” says Pulido. Not only in this conflict in Ukraine, but in all World“.