Russia used Shahed drones in Africa for first time and rebels shot one down
Shahed-136 kamikaze drone (photo: Getty Images)
On Monday, May 18, local rebels in Mali shot down a Russian Shahed-136 strike drone (Garpiya-A1) for the first time after Russia used it to support its mercenaries in Africa, Presidential Commissioner for Sanctions Policy Vladyslav Vlasiuk told journalists.
He noted that this is the first confirmed case of a drone of this type being used in the Sahel region. The downed aircraft is a new modification of the KK series equipped with an airburst warhead detonation function.
"Russia is increasingly transferring its military technologies and tools of war to other regions, particularly Africa. And it is doing so largely thanks to dual-use components that continue to reach Russian production facilities without obstruction," Vlasiuk said.
Civilian electronics (microchips, transistors, diodes, and relays) that can be freely purchased on the open market were found inside the drone shot down in Mali. In particular, these included parts made by STMicroelectronics, as well as Chinese manufacturers:
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Mornsun
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Wayon Electronics
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GigaDevice
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Shenzhen Codaca Electronic
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NCR Industrial
The same typical electronics configuration is also found in the drones Russia uses in the war against Ukraine. The situation in Mali demonstrates how quickly civilian technologies are becoming tools for exporting war.
Vlasiuk noted that as long as supplies of such components to Russia are not strictly controlled, Russian drone production will continue to scale along with the geography of their use.
During an aerial attack on the night of April 7, Russian forces used a modified Geran-2 strike drone against Ukraine.
During an inspection of the recovered debris, specialists recorded gamma radiation levels of 12 μSv/h, which significantly exceed permissible levels and may pose a threat to human health.
In addition, Ukraine's military intelligence agency recently examined a new Russian artificial intelligence-powered drone called Klin. Inside its optical-electronic systems, specialists found components manufactured in China, the United States, Taiwan, Australia, Switzerland, and South Korea.
