The russian occupation army has started using new attack unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) called Italmas. With them, they complement the already familiar Shahed-131 or Shahed-136 drones during air attacks on Ukraine.
This follows from a statement by the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
ISW analysts drew attention to the fact that on October 23, a number of russian mass media reported on the use of the new Italmas strike drone in the war against Ukraine.
The use of these drones shows the russian federation's attempts to expand and diversify its arsenal of drones, which it intends to use to attack Ukraine's energy infrastructure this winter.
The use of Italmas drones, ISW believes, is part of a broader russian effort to diversify munitions.
What is known about the Italmas UAV?
According to information from open sources, the Italmas drone (also called Geran-3) was developed by the russian company ZALA Aero Group.
It should be noted that this company is the developer and manufacturer of Lancet drones, which are actively used by russians on the front line.
The russians themselves write that Italmas is a simplified and cheaper version of the Iranian Shahed-136 kamikaze drone.
The drone received a different engine, which makes a sound different from that of Shaheds.
The occupiers claim that Italmas drones are allegedly capable of hitting targets at a distance of up to 200 kilometers.
As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, overnight into October 23, the Kyiv Region was attacked by russian kamikaze drones. According to the russians, Italmas drones were used during the attack.
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