US intelligence: Iran is helping Russia build a plant for the production of UAVs
10 June, 2023 Iranian Shahed-136 loitering munition. Iran. Photo credits: Iranian media
Russia has not only received hundreds of Iranian drones, but is also seeking to produce them at its own enterprise inside the country. The White House, citing US intelligence data, reports that Iran provides Russia with materials for the construction of a UAV plant. The Russian plant may start work in early 2024.
This indicates a deepening military partnership between the two countries. "We have information that Russia receives from Iran the materials necessary to build a UAV plant in Russia," said John Kirby, Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council in the White House.
Shahed kamikaze drone. Illustration
He also added that "this plant could be fully operational early next year".
A satellite image of an industrial area in the Russian Federation, where, presumably, a factory for the production of Iranian UAVs is being built.
Image: Maxar
The White House has also released a satellite image of the industrial area, taken in early April 2023, where it is allegedly planned to build a plant for the production of unmanned aerial vehicles. This is the Russian Alabuga Special Economic Zone in the Republic of Tatarstan. According to Kirby, the drones (Shahed-136/131 - Ed.) are currently being built in Iran, after which they are delivered through the Caspian Sea from Amirabad, Iran, to the Russian Makhachkala, and then used for attacks on Ukraine.
As previously reported, back in February, the American publication The Wall Street Journal, citing its sources, reported that Russia and Iran were considering the possibility of building a factory for the production of UAVs in Tatarstan.
Shahed-136 loitering munition. Illustration for the news
According to American officials, in early January, the Iranian delegation visited Russia. They examined the place where they planned to build the plant, and agreed on the details of the project.
The officials also told the publication that both countries were seeking to create an improved version of Shahed-136 kamikaze drones.
Wreckage of Russian Geran-2 (Shahed-136) drones of Iranian production in Ukraine. Autumn 2022. Photo from social media
Russia uses Iranian drones (loitering munition) to attack Ukrainian civilian and military targets.
At first, Iran officially denied accusations of supplying weapons to Russian troops, and the invaders themselves tried to disguise Iranian UAVs Shahed-136/131 under the Russian designation "Geran-2" and "Geran-1".