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Evidence of Russian-sourced Shaheds (Gerans) being used by Iran in the current conflict
Back in 2025, in the aftermath of Trump's first major assault on Iran, the Jerusalem Post reported how Russia was now building Gerans (its designation of the original Iranian Shaheds) itself in large quantities, mainly in the Albatross company's massive facility at the Alabuga Special Economic Zone in Tatarstan, Russia.
Perhaps presciently, the Jerusalem Post article stated:
Russia can export an improved, battle-tested version of Shahed-136 drones back to Iran
The [Alabuga] factory is also expanding rapidly with more dormitories and production facilities. CNN reported that this could mean that Russia would be able to export an improved, battle-tested version of the Shahed-136 drone back to Tehran.
...
Former UN weapons inspector and chief of the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS), David Albright, said that the expansion would allow Moscow to better support Iran in any future conflicts, which he said was “very dangerous.”
“Some of [Iran’s] drone production facilities were bombed, and they fired a lot of [drones], so as a way to build back stock, they may do that,” Albright told CNN. “And then Iran could reverse engineer or receive the technology to make a better quality Shahed.”
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-863703
The [Alabuga] factory is also expanding rapidly with more dormitories and production facilities. CNN reported that this could mean that Russia would be able to export an improved, battle-tested version of the Shahed-136 drone back to Tehran.
...
Former UN weapons inspector and chief of the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS), David Albright, said that the expansion would allow Moscow to better support Iran in any future conflicts, which he said was “very dangerous.”
“Some of [Iran’s] drone production facilities were bombed, and they fired a lot of [drones], so as a way to build back stock, they may do that,” Albright told CNN. “And then Iran could reverse engineer or receive the technology to make a better quality Shahed.”
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-863703
Russia has grown less and less reliant on Iran for Shahed/Geran parts. Components are sourced (often smuggled) from a number of countries, including some in the West, but its reliance has shifted to China:
Russian-built Shaheds abandon Iranian parts for Chinese tech - video
95% of the components in Russian-produced Shahed-type drones are now of Chinese, rather than Iranian, origin, Russian-Ukrainian war veteran and former Aidar battalion company commander Yevhen Dykyi said in an interview with Radio NV on March 3.
"I will remind you that Iran supplied Russia with a truly unique, but very powerful, what is called a 'game changer,' that is, a weapon that affects the entire course of the war," he explained.
"These are, in fact, the Shaheds. And, unfortunately, over the years that have passed, the Shahed has actually become the Geran."
He recalled that initially, Iran supplied Russia with ready-made Shahed drones, then built a production line in Alabuga, which initially only handled final assembly, and after that, the Russians began "Iran-substitution," replacing scarce Iranian components with more mass-produced Chinese ones.
"Today, almost 95% of the components in a Shahed (Flash [Serhii Beskrestnov, advisor to the Minister of Defense — Ed.] knows more precisely, of course), but almost 95% of the components in Shaheds have long been of Chinese production, not Iranian," Dykyi detailed.
"The Russians have also even changed the design, improved it."
https://english.nv.ua/russian-war/shahed-ta-geran-3-95-of-shahed-parts-now-chinese-50588748.html
95% of the components in Russian-produced Shahed-type drones are now of Chinese, rather than Iranian, origin, Russian-Ukrainian war veteran and former Aidar battalion company commander Yevhen Dykyi said in an interview with Radio NV on March 3.
"I will remind you that Iran supplied Russia with a truly unique, but very powerful, what is called a 'game changer,' that is, a weapon that affects the entire course of the war," he explained.
"These are, in fact, the Shaheds. And, unfortunately, over the years that have passed, the Shahed has actually become the Geran."
He recalled that initially, Iran supplied Russia with ready-made Shahed drones, then built a production line in Alabuga, which initially only handled final assembly, and after that, the Russians began "Iran-substitution," replacing scarce Iranian components with more mass-produced Chinese ones.
"Today, almost 95% of the components in a Shahed (Flash [Serhii Beskrestnov, advisor to the Minister of Defense — Ed.] knows more precisely, of course), but almost 95% of the components in Shaheds have long been of Chinese production, not Iranian," Dykyi detailed.
"The Russians have also even changed the design, improved it."
https://english.nv.ua/russian-war/shahed-ta-geran-3-95-of-shahed-parts-now-chinese-50588748.html
Then, a couple of days ago:
Russian-Made Geran-2 Drone Reportedly Shot Down Over Dubai in Massive Iranian Strike
The debris fell near homes and hotels as authorities urged tourists to stay indoors. Kyiv Post has not independently verified the reports.
Fragments of a Russian-marked drone have reportedly been found in Dubai after local air defenses intercepted a major Iranian attack on the city,
The drone, identified as a Geran-2, was discovered near the strategic Jebel Ali port, according to a Telegram channel for Russians in the UAE. Kyiv Post has not been able to independently verify these reports.
Preliminary accounts indicate it was shot down by UAE air defenses during the ongoing regional escalation.
...
“The Geran-2 ended up in Dubai… wow. There was a chance to get hit by your own drone? Quite a joke,” wrote a Russian expatriate sharing footage in the Telegram channel Russians in the UAE.
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/71190
The debris fell near homes and hotels as authorities urged tourists to stay indoors. Kyiv Post has not independently verified the reports.
Fragments of a Russian-marked drone have reportedly been found in Dubai after local air defenses intercepted a major Iranian attack on the city,
The drone, identified as a Geran-2, was discovered near the strategic Jebel Ali port, according to a Telegram channel for Russians in the UAE. Kyiv Post has not been able to independently verify these reports.
Preliminary accounts indicate it was shot down by UAE air defenses during the ongoing regional escalation.
...
“The Geran-2 ended up in Dubai… wow. There was a chance to get hit by your own drone? Quite a joke,” wrote a Russian expatriate sharing footage in the Telegram channel Russians in the UAE.
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/71190
A number of other outlets covered this at the time, concluding that the markings suggested deep collusion between the Iranians and the Russians, but its fuller significance was explored by Defense Express:
What Serial Number of Russian Geran-2 Drone Used by Iran Against UAE Actually Reveals
...
Based on the available footage, Defense Express can analyze the partially visible serial number on the Geran-2: KB 1070… The letters KB indicate that the drone was assembled at the Kupol plant in Izhevsk rather than at the Alabuga production facilities in Tatarstan, whose products carry the markings Ы and Ъ.
Drones from this production batch are equipped with the jam-resistant Kometa-M communications system. They are also characterized by the near-total absence of Iranian components, most of which have been replaced by Chinese parts. In addition, they differ in manufacturing and assembly technologies.
Regarding the numerical sequence, serial numbers at the Izhevsk plant are aligned along the edge. In this case, the winglet appears damaged, which explains why the full number is not visible. As of early March 2026, serial numbers of Geran-2 drones produced in Izhevsk have exceeded 30,000. A number in the 10,70X range corresponds to production levels of spring–summer 2024.
...
...
It is possible that this drone was transferred as a demonstration model. However, in that case it would be unlikely to have been used operationally. Geran-2 drones produced in Izhevsk differ in onboard electronics and even feature different flight mission programming ports compared to their Iranian counterparts.
Another plausible scenario is that russia supplied its own Geran-2 drones equipped with Kometa-M antennas containing a limited number of CRPA elements. These variants have already proven less effective against Ukraine. They may have been stored in russia and later transferred to Iran, possibly to replenish strategic stockpiles after Israeli strikes in 2025 or ahead of anticipated U.S. attacks as part of Operation Epic Fury.
https://en.defence-ua.com/news/what_the_serial_number_of_russian_geran_2_drone_used_by_iran_against_the_uae_actually_reveals-17718.html
...
Based on the available footage, Defense Express can analyze the partially visible serial number on the Geran-2: KB 1070… The letters KB indicate that the drone was assembled at the Kupol plant in Izhevsk rather than at the Alabuga production facilities in Tatarstan, whose products carry the markings Ы and Ъ.
Drones from this production batch are equipped with the jam-resistant Kometa-M communications system. They are also characterized by the near-total absence of Iranian components, most of which have been replaced by Chinese parts. In addition, they differ in manufacturing and assembly technologies.
Regarding the numerical sequence, serial numbers at the Izhevsk plant are aligned along the edge. In this case, the winglet appears damaged, which explains why the full number is not visible. As of early March 2026, serial numbers of Geran-2 drones produced in Izhevsk have exceeded 30,000. A number in the 10,70X range corresponds to production levels of spring–summer 2024.
...
...
It is possible that this drone was transferred as a demonstration model. However, in that case it would be unlikely to have been used operationally. Geran-2 drones produced in Izhevsk differ in onboard electronics and even feature different flight mission programming ports compared to their Iranian counterparts.
Another plausible scenario is that russia supplied its own Geran-2 drones equipped with Kometa-M antennas containing a limited number of CRPA elements. These variants have already proven less effective against Ukraine. They may have been stored in russia and later transferred to Iran, possibly to replenish strategic stockpiles after Israeli strikes in 2025 or ahead of anticipated U.S. attacks as part of Operation Epic Fury.
https://en.defence-ua.com/news/what_the_serial_number_of_russian_geran_2_drone_used_by_iran_against_the_uae_actually_reveals-17718.html
On LinkedIn, American aerospace engineer and author Robert Zubrin took the words out of my mouth:
Robert Zubrin
2d
Russian Geran drones made at the Yelabuga factory in Tatarstan are striking American forces and our allies in the Iran war. To protect our troops, the US should give Ukraine to means to destroy it. @yarotrof @ClaireBerlinski @McFaul @CliffordDMay
https://lnkd.in/gP6a5Ens
Russian-Made Geran-2 Drone Reportedly Shot Down Over Dubai in Massive Iranian Strike
2d
Russian Geran drones made at the Yelabuga factory in Tatarstan are striking American forces and our allies in the Iran war. To protect our troops, the US should give Ukraine to means to destroy it. @yarotrof @ClaireBerlinski @McFaul @CliffordDMay
https://lnkd.in/gP6a5Ens
Russian-Made Geran-2 Drone Reportedly Shot Down Over Dubai in Massive Iranian Strike
[This OP is adapted from a reply originally posted to an OP in GD at
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=21077996, now also X-Posted in Editorials & Other Articles - https://www.democraticunderground.com/1016424670]
6 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
I kicked it.. even though I had no words at the time.
It's incriminating and heartbreaking. 
I'll look for it in Editorials.. glad you posted it in GD.
things gong on a once. It feels like the beginning of World War 3 like Traitor and Putin want.
It seems like the Info you have in your OP would be beneficial to be aware of.
Bookmarking 