“Explosive” new attack drone developed by Iran For Russia's war in Ukraine

Iran has developed a new attack drone for Russia's war in Ukraine and appears close to providing Moscow with surface-to-surface missiles.

The Shahed-107 was 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, an informed security source claimed, according to Sky News.

The source told Sky News that "a few units" of the specially-designed drone may have been offered to Russia in a deal estimated to be worth more than $2m.

This reflects "the significant force design work Iran is engaged in to support Russia's interests regarding Ukraine", the source said.

Ukraine and its Western allies have previously accused Tehran of supplying Moscow with hundreds of one-way attack drones known as the Shahed-131 and Shahed-136 - dubbed "suicide drones" because they fly into targets and explode on impact.

Russia uses a combination of drone and missile strikes to try to penetrate Ukraine's western-backed air defences in waves of deadly attacks against civilian and military targets across the country that have intensified in recent days.

The security source said the new Shahed-107 drone was from the Shahed-101 family of unmanned aerial vehicles, with a V-shaped tail.

About 2.5 metres long and with a wingspan of three metres, the UAV can be launched from a vehicle and is estimated to have a range of up to 1,500km (932 miles), the source said.

The security source claimed that Iranian security forces conducted a trial with the Russians at an airbase in central Iran that included the Shahed-107 and the Shahed-136 drones.

In September 2022, Iran's president denied his country had sent drones or other weapons to Russia for use in Ukraine.