Latest news with #Shahed136
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
As the West scrambles to send air defences to Ukraine, these soldiers are filling the gaps
The vehicle's lights are switched off and the battlefield plunges into darkness. The machine gun vanishes and the soldiers disappear. Only the starlight sketches out the silhouettes of Ukrainian troops in position on a bridge. The day has ended, but their mission is about to begin: it's time to hunt Russia's drones. As Kyiv pushes for more Patriots missiles and advanced defence batteries, this handful of soldiers are doing what billion-pound systems cannot: reacting in real time to Moscow's main threat before they reach Ukraine's cities. In the past month, they have downed seven Shahed 136s. Is it a lot? Or not enough? The crackle of the radio interrupts the debate. 'Stay sharp, we've got work to do,' shouts Ivan, commander of the mobile anti-air battery. 'There's one heading this way. We'll try to bring it down.' The Shahed is one of Kyiv's greatest foes – not for its destructive power, but for its ability to overwhelm air defences. Cheap, explosive and increasingly hard to intercept, Russia sends several thousand each month. Launched in waves alongside ballistic missiles, they overwhelm even the most advanced systems, and put high-value assets such as the F-16 jet at serious risk. The weapon's importance to Russia was underscored when a number of Shaheds were paraded on May 9 – the first time drones have been included in Moscow's annual Victory Day celebrations. In recent days, as Kyiv and its allies have pushed for a full 30-day ceasefire, the sound of the drones' four-cylinder engines overhead has not stopped, and they have continued to target civilian centres. Hi-tech Western arms are capable of intercepting individual Shaheds and Russian ballistic missiles, but each Patriot missile costs millions of pounds. In contrast, each Shahed costs Russia about £26,000 to produce. What's more, the flow of Western defence weaponry has slowed in the months since Donald Trump returned to the White House, leaving Ukraine's EU allies scrambling to supply Kyiv with more missiles. Troops on the ground, like those from the 115 Brigade, are working to plug the gaps and bring the drones down themselves. Back on the bridge, the soldiers burst into motion, and a gunner jumps into the back of a modified pick-up. Its sides and rear gate have been stripped away, replaced by a swivel seat with foot pedals to fire the mounted 14.5mm machine gun. A thermal imaging screen helps to track targets overhead. A few metres away, another soldier locks a blue laser onto the incoming drone, marking its trajectory. Tracer rounds follow the beam. A yellow streak rips through the night, and empty casings clatter onto the tarmac. The burst lasts for 24 seconds. 'Move,' Ihor shouts. 'Let's go, let's go, we must change position.' Some soldiers scramble back into the van, others sprint to a nearby 4x4. It seems they have missed their target, but there is no time to dwell on it. On the battlefields of Ukraine, every shot is a gift to the enemy. Hit or miss, once they open fire, they become easy targets for a Russian counterstrike, and the priority now is to get to cover fast. 'What really makes it difficult is their change of speed,' says Volodia, commander of a second anti-air battery. 'If it were constant, we could set the interception point and fire slightly ahead of the target. But it is not that simple.' These drones can alter course and speed mid-flight, making them harder to shoot down. Russia's domestically produced model travels at about 200 kilometres an hour (124 miles an hour). But a new version – the Shahed 238 – could triple that top speed, further complicating the defenders' job. 'Everyone is adapting in their own way,' says Volodia. 'Russians modified the fuel tanks design, the motors, or paint the Shaheds black. And we adjust as well. For several weeks now, we have had thermal screens mounted on our machine guns.' Ivan nods beside him: 'Before that, it was almost impossible to bring them down.' The thermal technology not only extends detection range to two or three kilometres (almost two miles) but also nullifies camouflage efforts and improves accuracy, helping the gunners hit critical components, such as the engine. But the battlefield is evolving fast. As Ukraine's defences sharpen, Russia adapts, sending more decoy drones, using Ukrainian SIM cards to reroute the flights after crossing the front line, and equipping the unmanned systems with electronic warfare to mislead interceptors. For many Ukrainians, the promise of Western arms remains distant. Cities such as Sumy, Kryvyi Rih or Kharkiv are suffering bloody strikes, with civilian casualties mounting, all while Vladimir Putin talks about peace. This is why Kyiv is pressing to acquire 10 Patriot systems for £11.3 billion to add to the eight it is reported to already possess. The air defence system is widely recognised for its ability to track and intercept aircraft, cruise and ballistic missiles with high-precision. Recently, Kyiv secured one US launcher previously deployed in Israel, along with 100 missiles for it from Germany. Washington's approval of the delivery marks one small gesture towards Ukraine since the signing of the mineral agreement. But the limited Patriot batteries are focused on countering the most serious threats, and solutions, such as the 13 Raven air defence systems sent by Britain, remain scarce. Until more weapons are delivered, mobile anti-aircraft units like the one from the 115 Brigade will remain vital to intercepting Russia's drones. 'Go to the shelter, go to the shelter. I repeat, go to the shelter,' the radio pops again. 'A Russian KAB (guided bomb) is incoming,' Volodia says calmly. This time, the soldiers are unmoved. 'It's not aimed at us. The system would alert.' He lifts his head just as a sharp ripple tears through the air. Seconds later, a flash ignites the horizon. 'One-two-three-four-five-six ...' someone counts into the darkness. A deafening blast shakes the ground. 'Fifteen,' a soldier call sign Mer shouts. 'Fifteen seconds.' What does that mean? 'That it hit about five or six kilometres away,' Mer explains, having roughly calculated the distance by multiplying the time between the flash and the sound of the blast. 'Sooner or later, these battles will be fought entirely in the air,' ponders Volodia, who worked in a hospital in central Ukraine before the invasion began. He once delivered babies. Now, he fights to save lives. 'We already have effective anti-aircraft drones, but they are expensive,' he says. 'The war will be won by whoever invests smarter.' Victory is always on Ukrainian lips, even as talk at far-off negotiating tables turns to Ukraine being forced to concede swathes of territory to Russia. But Volodia is confident Ukraine can win: 'We know how to fight with less.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
On the road with the Ukrainians downing drones with machine guns
The vehicle's lights are switched off and the battlefield plunges into darkness. The machine gun vanishes and the soldiers disappear. Only the starlight sketches out the silhouettes of Ukrainian troops in position on a bridge. The day has ended, but their mission is about to begin: it's time to hunt Russia's drones. As Kyiv pushes for more Patriot missiles and advanced defence batteries, this handful of soldiers are doing what billion-pound systems cannot: reacting in real time to Moscow's main threat before they reach Ukraine's cities. In the past month, they have downed seven Shahed 136s. Is it a lot? Or not enough? The crackle of the radio interrupts the debate. 'Stay sharp, we've got work to do,' shouts Ivan, commander of the mobile anti-air battery. 'There's one heading this way. We'll try to bring it down.' The Shahed is one of Kyiv's greatest foes – not for its destructive power, but for its ability to overwhelm air defences. Cheap, explosive and increasingly hard to intercept, Russia sends several thousand each month. Launched in waves alongside ballistic missiles, they overwhelm even the most advanced systems, and put high-value assets such as the F-16 jet at serious risk. The weapon's importance to Russia was underscored when a number of Shaheds were paraded on May 9 – the first time drones have been included in Moscow's annual Victory Day celebrations. In recent days, as Kyiv and its allies have pushed for a full 30-day ceasefire, the sound of the drones' four-cylinder engines overhead has not stopped, and they have continued to target civilian centres. Hi-tech Western arms are capable of intercepting individual Shaheds and Russian ballistic missiles, but each Patriot missile costs millions of pounds. In contrast, each Shahed costs Russia about £26,000 to produce. What's more, the flow of Western defence weaponry has slowed in the months since Donald Trump returned to the White House, leaving Ukraine's EU allies scrambling to supply Kyiv with more missiles. Troops on the ground, like those from the 115 Brigade, are working to plug the gaps and bring the drones down themselves. Back on the bridge, the soldiers burst into motion, and a gunner jumps into the back of a modified pick-up. Its sides and rear gate have been stripped away, replaced by a swivel seat with foot pedals to fire the mounted 14.5mm machine gun. A thermal imaging screen helps to track targets overhead. A few metres away, another soldier locks a blue laser onto the incoming drone, marking its trajectory. Tracer rounds follow the beam. A yellow streak rips through the night, and empty casings clatter onto the tarmac. The burst lasts for 24 seconds. 'Move,' Ihor shouts. 'Let's go, let's go, we must change position.' Some soldiers scramble back into the van, others sprint to a nearby 4x4. It seems they have missed their target, but there is no time to dwell on it. On the battlefields of Ukraine, every shot is a gift to the enemy. Hit or miss, once they open fire, they become targets for a Russian counterstrike, and the priority now is to get to cover fast. 'What really makes it difficult is their change of speed,' says Volodia, commander of a second anti-air battery. 'If it were constant, we could set the interception point and fire slightly ahead of the target. But it is not that simple.' These drones can alter course and speed mid-flight, making them harder to shoot down. Russia's domestically produced model travels at about 200 kilometres an hour (124 miles an hour). But a new version – the Shahed 238 – could triple that top speed, further complicating the defenders' job. 'Everyone is adapting in their own way,' says Volodia. 'Russians modified the fuel tanks design, the motors, or paint the Shaheds black. And we adjust as well. For several weeks now, we have had thermal screens mounted on our machine guns.' Ivan nods beside him: 'Before that, it was almost impossible to bring them down.' The thermal technology not only extends detection range to up to three kilometres (almost two miles) but also nullifies camouflage efforts and improves accuracy, helping the gunners hit critical components, such as the engine. But the battlefield is evolving fast. As Ukraine's defences sharpen, Russia adapts, sending more decoy drones, using Ukrainian SIM cards to reroute the flights after crossing the front line, and equipping the unmanned systems with electronic warfare to mislead interceptors. For many Ukrainians, the promise of Western arms remains distant. Cities such as Sumy, Kryvyi Rih or Kharkiv are suffering bloody strikes, with civilian casualties mounting, all while Vladimir Putin talks about peace. This is why Kyiv is pressing to acquire 10 Patriot systems for £11.3 billion to add to the eight it is reported to already possess. The air defence system is widely recognised for its ability to track and intercept aircraft, cruise and ballistic missiles with high-precision. Recently, Kyiv secured one US launcher previously deployed in Israel, along with 100 missiles for it from Germany. Washington's approval of the delivery marks one small gesture towards Ukraine since the signing of the mineral agreement. But the limited Patriot batteries are focused on countering the most serious threats. Solutions, such as the 13 Raven air defence systems sent by Britain, remain scarce. Until more weapons are delivered, mobile anti-aircraft units like the one from the 115 Brigade will remain vital to intercepting Russia's drones. 'Go to the shelter, go to the shelter. I repeat, go to the shelter,' the radio pops again. 'A Russian KAB (guided bomb) is incoming,' Volodia says calmly. This time, the soldiers are unmoved. 'It's not aimed at us. The system would alert.' Deafening blast He lifts his head just as a sharp ripple tears through the air. Seconds later, a flash ignites the horizon. 'One-two-three-four-five-six ...' someone counts into the darkness. A deafening blast shakes the ground. 'Fifteen,' a soldier, call sign Mer, shouts. 'Fifteen seconds.' What does that mean? 'That it hit about five or six kilometres away,' Mer explains, having roughly calculated the distance by multiplying the time between the flash and the sound of the blast. 'Sooner or later, these battles will be fought entirely in the air,' ponders Volodia, who worked in a hospital in central Ukraine before the invasion began. He once delivered babies. Now, he fights to save lives. 'We already have effective anti-aircraft drones, but they are expensive,' he says. 'The war will be won by whoever invests smarter.' Victory is always on Ukrainian lips, even as talk at far-off negotiating tables turns to Ukraine being forced to concede swathes of territory to Russia. But Volodia is confident Ukraine can win: 'We know how to fight with less.'
Newsweek
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Video Shows Iran's New Underground Military Drone Facility
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has unveiled a new underground military drone hangar, marking another step in the country's efforts to project its military capabilities. The reveal was accompanied by a video showing the facility's layout and weaponry. The announcement coincided with sharp criticism from U.S. lawmakers. House Speaker Mike Johnson and senior Republicans condemned Iran's role in global conflicts during a Capitol Hill event at which a captured Iranian-made drone was displayed as a symbol of Tehran's reach from Ukraine to the Middle East. Newsweek has reached out the State Department and Iran's foreign ministry for comment. Why It Matters The unveiling of Iran's underground drone facility highlights Tehran's strategy to protect its assets from potential airstrikes and surveillance, particularly from Israel or the United States, as it shifts focus toward asymmetric warfare and enhanced defense infrastructure. This development coincides with renewed U.S.-Iran nuclear talks, with a fourth round of negotiations set for Sunday. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump is preparing for a Middle East trip, including stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, where discussions will likely center on Iran's nuclear ambitions and regional security concerns. U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (L) (R-LA) is greeted by Mark Wallace, CEO of the non-profit United Against Nuclear Iran, before Johnson delivered remarks next to a Shahed 136 military drone during a... U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (L) (R-LA) is greeted by Mark Wallace, CEO of the non-profit United Against Nuclear Iran, before Johnson delivered remarks next to a Shahed 136 military drone during a press conference on Capitol Hill May 8, 2025 in Washington, DC. The press conference, organized by United Against Nuclear Iran, occurred as the United States and Iran continue to negotiate over bilateral issues and growing international concern with Iran's drone production and proliferation. MoreWhat to Know The IRGC unveiling showcased the underground base's integration of various missile platforms and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Iranian media highlighted the facility's apparent capacity for autonomous operations and rapid mobilization. Officials stated that the site is fully operational and capable of sustaining independent military campaigns. Iranian Drone Threat This demonstration of Iran's expanding military capabilities comes as U.S. lawmakers have voiced increasing concern over Tehran's growing use of drones. On Thursday, an Iranian-made Shahed 136 drone, captured in Ukraine, was displayed inside Congress during an event organized by United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI). The exhibition highlighted growing concerns in Washington over Iran's global footprint, with UANI CEO and former U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mark Wallace calling the drone "the most ubiquitous terror weapon of mass destruction in the world today." Secret Nuclear Site Meanwhile on Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi dismissed recent reports suggesting the existence of a secret nuclear facility in Iran, attributing them to attempts aimed at disrupting upcoming nuclear negotiations with Washington. Araghchi, posting on X, appeared to reference a report citing the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), writing: "Like clockwork, more Very Scary Satellite Images are being circulated as Iran-US indirect nuclear talks are set to resume." Like clockwork, more Very Scary Satellite Images are being circulated as Iran-U.S. indirect nuclear talks are set to resume. With his credibility in tatters and exposed as a saboteur, Netanyahu—under his "Determining What @realdonaldtrump Can & Cannot Do"-policy—is turning to… — Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) May 8, 2025 The NCRI is recognized as diplomatic wing of the Mojahedin-e-Khalq (MeK). It is designated as a terrorist organization by Iran due to its past involvement in violent attacks and was considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. until its delisting in 2012. What People Are Saying IRGC Major General Hossein Salami said: "What the Iranian people witness today represents only a fraction of the IRGC Navy's substantial drone capabilities." Former U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mark Wallace called Iran's Shahed 136 drone: "The most ubiquitous terror weapon of mass destruction in the world today." Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote: "Like clockwork, more Very Scary Satellite Images are being circulated as Iran-U.S. indirect nuclear talks are set to resume." What Happens Next As Iran continues to unveil new military capabilities, Tehran is clearly seeking to strengthen its position ahead of renewed nuclear talks with the U.S., set to resume on May 11 in Oman. The timing aligns with President Donald Trump's upcoming trip to the Middle East, where Iran's expanding military footprint and nuclear ambitions are expected to dominate the regional security agenda.
New York Times
25-03-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
How a Cheap Drone Punctured Chernobyl's 40,000 Ton Shield
Eric Schmieman worked for 15 years on the modern engineering equivalent of the Great Pyramid — building a giant protective shield for a damaged reactor at Chernobyl that would protect the world from further fallout from the worst ever nuclear disaster. The steel shell, slid into place over Reactor No. 4 on railroad tracks in 2016, is the world's largest movable structure. It is as tall as a football field and weighs almost 40,000 tons. More than 45 countries and organizations spent almost $1.7 billion building it. 'We did a lot of safety analysis, considering a lot of bad things that could happen,' said Mr. Schmieman, 78, a retired civil engineer from Washington state who was a senior technical adviser on the project. 'We considered earthquakes, tornadoes, heavy winds, 100-year snowfalls, all kinds of things. We didn't consider acts of war.' On Feb. 14, a drone with a high-explosive warhead that likely cost as little as $20,000 to produce punched a hole in the steel shell. Ukrainian officials said the Russians deliberately targeted the structure with a Shahed 136 drone. The Kremlin has denied responsibility. While the initial fire was quickly put out, a waterproof membrane inside the insulation of the arch burned and smoldered for almost three weeks, said Artem Siryi, the head of the operations department for the structure, called the New Safe Confinement. Emergency workers in mountain-climbing equipment had to knock holes into the shield's outer layer, hunting for the fire, and spray water inside a structure designed to stay dry to prevent corrosion, Ukrainian officials and international experts said. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Shafaq News
26-02-2025
- Business
- Shafaq News
US Treasury imposes new sanctions on Iran
Shafaq News/ On Wednesday, the US Treasury imposed sanctions on six entities in Hong Kong and mainland China that it said facilitate the acquisition of parts for armed drones produced by Iran, as part of Washington's "maximum pressure" campaign on Tehran. The entities, the treasury said, acquire parts for US-sanctioned Iranian firm, Pishtazan Kavosh Gostar Boshra, and its subsidiary company Narin Sepehr Mobin Isatis, which it said supplied Iran's drone and ballistic missile programs. The two Iranian companies were hit by US sanctions before. 'Iran continues to try to find new ways to procure the key components it needs to bolster its UAV weapons program through new front companies and third-country suppliers,' Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement on Wednesday, referring to unmanned aerial vehicles. 'Treasury remains committed to disrupting the schemes that enable Iran to send its deadly weapons abroad to its terrorist proxies and other destabilizing actors,' he added. Western powers accuse Iran of providing drones and missiles to Russia for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russia launched 267 attack drones overnight on Saturday, marking the largest single assault since the use of Iranian-made projectiles began, while Iran denied before it had made drone contracts with Russia to be used in the Ukraine war. Iranian drones have repeatedly been deployed in attacks on Ukraine's infrastructure and other civilian targets. The Shahed 136 drone is typically launched alongside cruise and ballistic missile attacks to overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses. On Monday, the United States imposed sanctions on more than 30 individuals and vessels involved in facilitating the sale and shipment of Iranian petroleum-related products, the Treasury Department said. The sanctions, imposed under Executive Orders 13902 and 13846, targeted 17 entities, 13 vessels, and 4 individuals allegedly linked to Iran's oil sector.
