Iran develops advanced Shahed-107 attack drone to aid Russia in war with Ukraine

Iran has developed a new attack drone called the Shahed-107, designed specifically for Russia to use in its war against Ukraine, according to an unnamed security source cited by Sky News on Wednesday.

The Shahed-107 is described as an explosive and reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), possibly fitted with technology to seek out high-value battlefield targets, such as British and American multiple-launch rocket systems used by Ukrainian forces. 

Iran has reportedly sold "a few units" to Russia in a deal that is estimated to be worth more than $2 million. 

Iran is also close to providing Moscow with surface-to-surface missiles, according to the report. 

The security source said the new Shahed-107 drone is from the Shahed-101 family of UAVs with a V-shaped tail. The drone has a length of 2.5 meters (over 8 feet) and has a wingspan of 3 meters (close to 10 feet). In addition, the UAV can be launched from a vehicle and is estimated to have a range of up to 1,500 kilometers (932 miles), the source said. 

The advanced technology drone is thought to be capable of transmitting livestream video, allowing the drone operator to identify other targets on Ukraine's frontline, such as UAVs or weapons systems. 

The Sky News report quoted the security source as saying, "the Russian offensive relies a lot on the Iranian drones, constantly modernizing them. They try to make them faster to force Ukrainian defence forces to use more expensive air defence systems.”

This can be seen in the hundreds of one-way drones Tehran has delivered to Russia, like the Shahed-131 and the Shahed-136, dubbed "suicide drones" because they fly into targets and explode on impact.  

Iran has made huge advances in drone technology in recent years. Tehran has increased its military cooperation with Moscow and,  in November, admitted to selling military technology to Russia after months of accusations from the West. While Russia is often regarded as a military world power, it reportedly lags behind the West in several military technologies, including UAVs.

Tehran has agreed to set up drone manufacturing facilities in Russia to help speed up the arms race. Russia is reportedly now able to assemble the Iranian Shahed-126 systems on its own at a facility 500 miles east of Moscow, the source said, who added, “The manufacturing capacity by September 2025 should be around 4,000 pieces per year.”

However, the Shahed-107 isn’t Ukraine’s biggest concern right now. Ballistic missiles with a range of over 300 kilometers (186 miles) are reportedly a far greater threat. Ukraine’s only defense against ballistic missiles is the U.S. Army’s Patriot air and missile defense system.

Patriots missiles have limited range and can’t protect every inch of Ukraine's territory. A U.S. official was quoted in American media earlier this month saying that Iran will soon be providing short-range ballistic missiles to Russia. 

These new drones developed by Iran are not only for export purposes to Russia but also used in its own conflicts in the Middle East.

In August, Tehran threatened Israel with its new attack drone called the Mohajer. The Mohajer drone is capable of flying the more than 1,000-mile distance that separates Iran from the Jewish state and allegedly has a reported speed of 130 mph.