Russia Absorbs Shahed Drone Production, Testing Alliance With Iran

Russia has largely absorbed production of the Iranian-designed Shahed-136 attack drone into its own defense-industrial base, according to satellite imagery, corporate disclosures and Western intelligence assessments. The Alabuga complex in Tatarstan, 600 miles east of Moscow, now manufactures more than 5,500 units a month, completing the 6,000-drone target set in a $1.75 billion 2023 licensing deal roughly a year ahead of schedule. Russian managers say about 90 % of the drone’s components—including engines, micro-electronics and composite fuselages—are now made domestically. Local integration and design tweaks have cut the unit cost to roughly $70,000 from $200,000 in 2022, while upgrades such as larger warheads and improved communications have made the weapon harder to intercept in Ukraine. The rapid localization has sidelined Iranian suppliers and highlighted what Western intelligence officials describe as a purely transactional Moscow-Tehran partnership. Iranian entities, including Sahara Thunder, have complained of late payments and curtailed technology transfers, and analysts say Tehran is growing impatient over the limited returns on its military support for Russia. Despite the frictions, security experts expect the relationship to persist: Russia could still ship updated Shaheds or other hardware back to Iran as the latter rebuilds facilities damaged during Israel’s June strikes. But the episode underscores Russia’s aim to master the entire production cycle and minimize future dependence on its wartime partner.