From Izhevsk, a pivotal hub for arms production renowned worldwide, Russia plans mass production of Italmas drones. This development is set to strengthen the Kremlin’s unmanned aerial capabilities. The drone, described as a kamikaze design, has been under development for months with support from a specialized company, ZALA-AERO, and was showcased last Friday, October 21, on the state-owned Pervy Channel. The new design features an improved internal combustion engine that enables longer flight distances, reaching up to about 200 kilometers, while maintaining a very low thermal footprint that helps it blend with the background and evade radar detection. Fixed and portable radars alike face a tougher challenge against its enhanced warhead, expanding Moscow’s offensive potential. [Citation: Ukrainska Pravda English]
Russia has begun deploying new Italmas drones against Ukraine; in images circulated online, the craft resemble lawnmowers. This visualization circulated on social media and was noted by observers as part of Russia’s evolving drone program. [Citation: Ukrainska Pravda English]
The project borrows its name from a flower native to the Ural region and is reportedly cheaper to produce than Iran’s Shahed drones, which retail at roughly $20,000 per unit. The Italmas concept is also described as a modernization of the Lancet family, a Russian predecessor. This technology is intended to assist Moscow in frontline combat, aiming to destroy armored vehicles and strike at urban targets. [Citation: Ukrainska Pravda English]
The weapon has been under development for months, with improvements introduced after initial winter tests. Producing these systems domestically offers Russia a strategic advantage by reducing dependence on foreign suppliers, including Tehran. Some features of these unmanned aerial vehicles remain undisclosed and will not be publicly known until their first battlefield deployment. [Citation: Ukrainska Pravda English]
#Kharkiv This morning Not all 33 Shahed drones #Russia Those that were launched were intercepted or destroyed. Another morning of casualties and concern for Ukraine. [Citation: Ukrainska Pravda English]
Experience
Russia has previously relied on Shahed drones supplied with or inspired by Iranian designs, which caused disruption across Ukrainian cities such as Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odesa, and Dnipro. These devices were deployed in large groups, challenging air defenses and saturating defense systems. Their appeal lies in low production costs alongside the ability to mass-produce, making it harder to counter with conventional surface-to-air systems. [Citation: Ukrainska Pravda English]
Estimates published by media outlets suggest the cost advantage for Russia. A major newspaper noted that if the drones operate monthly, the expense could be around 21 million euros, a figure far lower than the cost of alternative high-end weapons such as tactical missiles or ballistic weapons, which frequently exceed 100,000 euros per unit. [Citation: Ukrainska Pravda English]
Ukraine has alleged that parts for these drones often come from Western suppliers. Documentation prepared by Ukraine and shared with the G7 indicates involvement by several Western nations, including the United States, Canada, and other EU members, alongside allies in Switzerland, the Netherlands, Germany, Japan, and Poland. The sanctions regime on Russia has been linked to support for Kyiv from numerous partners. [Citation: Ukrainska Pravda English]