ISW: Russia, Iran might sign new contract on Arash-2 drones supply

Russia may have signed a new contract with Iran for the supply of Arash-2 drones.

Ukrainian and Russian Telegram channels reported "leaked" information from unspecified Iranian sources that Russia has purchased an unknown number of Arash-2 drones, which are purportedly faster and more destructive than the Shaheed-136 drones currently in use by Russian forces, ISW reports.

Commander of the Iranian Ground Forces Brigadier General Kiomars Heydari previously claimed in early September that the Arash-2 drones have unique long-range capabilities and could target cities in Israel such as Tel Aviv and Haifa from bases in Iran, the report adds.

Reports that Moscow is continuing to rely on Tehran for destructive munitions are consistent with a report from the US Treasury Department that suggests Russia is rapidly expanding its supply of microelectronics that are critical for the military-industrial complex because it cannot replace key components unavailable because of sanctions.

Russia will likely continue to leverage its relationship with Iran to circumvent sanctions, although it is very unlikely that Russian forces will use the Arash-2 to any greater effect than they have used the Shaheed-136 model, ISW says.