Budanov: Russia to Help North Korea Establish Production of Shahed UAVs

Russia will help North Korea (DPRK) establish production of long-range Shahed-136 kamikaze drones of Iranian origin.

In an interview with The War Zone, Kyrylo Budanov, Chief of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, revealed that Russia was assisting North Korea (DPRK) in establishing production of long-range Shahed-136 kamikaze drones of Iranian origin.

This cooperation involves the transfer of technology and manufacturing expertise for the drones that Russia reportedly uses nightly to attack Ukrainian cities.

According to the Chief of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, agreements have been made to begin establishing production facilities for Garpiya and Geran-2 drones (the Russian versions of Iranian Shahed-136 drones) on North Korean territory.

Initially, the Shahed drones were supplied by Iran, but later Russia started domestic production, which currently amounts to about 2,000 units per month, with plans to increase to 5,000 per month. Russia is continuously improving the drones’ flight range, payload capacity, communication systems, and attack patterns.

The availability of the Shahed drones will give North Korea the capability to strike targets anywhere in South Korea. When used in large numbers, these drones could overwhelm air defense systems, paving the way for attacks by other weapons.

Furthermore, the Shahed drones produced in North Korea could be exported back to Russia to support its war against Ukraine.

Budanov suggests that Russian assistance to North Korea will lead to changes in the military balance on the Korean Peninsula.

Production in Russia

The Russians have scaled up production of the Iranian Shahed strike drone clones through a new factory in Izhevsk.

This refers to the facilities at the JSC Izhevsk Electromechanical Plant or IEMZ Kupol, a subsidiary of the Russian state-owned weapons manufacturer Almaz-Antey.

The Shahed drones produced here, unlike the “Geran-2” manufactured in Alabuz, have the Russian index “Garpiya-A1.”

The experts from the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine have uncovered a significant rise in the use of Chinese electronics in the electronic warfare systems of Shahed/Geran kamikaze drones.