Iran Seeks Advanced Russian Jet-Powered Drones to Evade Air Defenses

Western security sources and a Kremlin insider revealed to the Financial Times that Iran has requested to purchase advanced Russian "Gran" series jet-powered drones this year. These drones are an upgraded version of the Iranian "Shahed" drones, which Russia began producing domestically in 2023. The new Russian drones, Gran 4 and Gran 5, have been used in recent weeks to strike Ukrainian cities, demonstrating a significantly higher success rate in evading air defense systems compared to their propeller-driven predecessors.

The Gran 5 drone, capable of speeds up to 600 km/h, has been particularly effective. It recently hit the headquarters of Ukraine's Security Service in Kyiv, marking the first direct drone attack on a government building in the capital. Another drone narrowly missed President Volodymyr Zelensky's plane as it prepared to depart from Moldova. Hundreds of these drones have also targeted Ukrainian infrastructure, including warehouses and ports.

Ukrainian officials described recent attacks, which killed two people after hitting fuel stations, as "terrorist in nature." The Ukrainian Air Force reported a peak of 2,800 Russian drone launches in August, coinciding with Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries and commercial warehouses. This development highlights Russia's capability to develop, refine, and deploy new weapons systems on a large scale, a notable shift for a military that has suffered immense human and equipment losses since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

In contrast to the basic guidance systems and 20 kg warhead of the first-generation Gran 1, the advanced Gran 5 features a jet engine, a 90 kg warhead, a range of 1,000 km, and incorporates AI-powered target identification and thermal imaging systems. Its design resembles a cruise missile, and it was reportedly first deployed by Russia in January.