AFU Shoot Down New Iranian Kamikaze Drone Shahed-238 With Western 'Stuffing'

• 8.02.2024, 11:19

Components of leading European and American companies were found inside.

In January 2024, Russian occupiers used a new kamikaze drone Shahed-238 against Ukraine. The drone itself is Iranian-made, but almost all components came from the West.

Journalists from Defence Express published a detailed disassembly of the drone, which clearly showed that Western sanctions are not a hindrance.

Even the drone's main component (the engine) is also of non-Iranian origin. Experts have already identified its type - it is a TJ150, which is manufactured in the Czech Republic at the PBS Velká Bíteš factory.

Its weight is almost 19kg; its diameter is 272mm and its length is 518mm. Such a motor is capable of delivering speeds of up to 520 km/h.

Systems from inertial and satellite systems are responsible for navigation, as in all drones. To receive signals, the drone uses a TW1721 antenna unit manufactured in Canada at the Tallysman factory.

Satellite signals help process chips from U.S. companies Intel, Analog Devices and NXP USA Inc.

The inertial navigation unit is assembled on the basis of microchips produced by Swiss and American companies.

A microprocessor from Texas Instruments, USA is responsible for the control and flight module.

As a result, the Shahed-238 kamikaze drone is assembled from Western components that are available in the market.

Experts wonder how parts such as the motor could have got to Tehran.

In this particular case, the possibility of supplying engines to Iran could have been suppressed.