Russia Receives Upgraded Shahed-136 Drone With Thermal Guidance

Ukraine’s defense intelligence has released a technical analysis of an upgraded version of the Iranian Shahed-136 drone, now reportedly in service with Russian forces and equipped with thermal guidance.

The 3D model and internal components of the new long-range UAV were published on the War&Sanctions portal.

In June, Ukrainian defense forces shot down a new variant of the Shahed series equipped with a radio control system and infrared optics in the Sumy region.

The materials used in the fuselage and the design of the electronic components suggest that the UAV was manufactured in Iran. However, certain modifications may reflect joint Russian-Iranian efforts to upgrade the drone.

The drone, marked with the serial number MS001, includes a high-performance Nvidia Jetson Orin minicomputer — optimized for AI and image processing — as well as an infrared camera resembling a model previously reported in Russian use.

The module processes imagery from the camera and compares it to preloaded reference models to refine targeting or enable autonomous object recognition. The same functionality can also support reconnaissance missions.

The Nasir satellite navigation system, designed to resist jamming, has also been upgraded to support eight channels. The sample examined featured a four-element antenna capable of receiving GPS signals in both the L1 and L5 bands.

The UAV is also equipped with a radio modem and a subsystem for video transmission, telemetry, or coordinated group control.

Militarnyi previously also reported that the downed drone was likely a variant of the Shahed-236 — a further development of the Shahed-136 series. It features a target acquisition system and an internal combustion engine, allowing it to operate either autonomously or under operator control at ranges of several hundred kilometers.

A 2022 document outlines the operational concept for the system, which includes the strike drone, a repeater drone, and a mobile control station. Under operator control, the system’s range is listed at 220 kilometers, while autonomous mode extends the range to over 1,000 kilometers.

The documents also reference the estimated cost of the drone — reportedly around $900,000 for Russia. This figure is significantly higher than the $193,000 Russia paid per Shahed-136 in 2022, suggesting the price may include licensing or localization costs.