Ukrainian volunteers have started a project to restore the engines of Russian drones Shahed shot down, transforming enemy equipment into useful components for the defense of the country.
The initiative is led by the Charity Foundation ZAMPOTECHwhich reports that each engine requires about two weeks of work before it is ready for reuse.
According to the foundation, “we are restoring the engines of enemy drones to serve Ukraine. Every detail counts,” a spokesperson for the organization said. For this work, the fund receives dozens of engine units from drones Shahed shot down by Ukrainian forces.
After restoration, these engines are installed on Ukrainian drones, strengthening the defending side’s ability to produce and operate unmanned aerial vehicles.
What is the Shahed drone used by Russia
The drones used by Russia in its attacks on Ukraine, often called Shahed-136 or designated by Russian forces as Grant-2are unmanned attack aircraft known as “kamikaze” munitions or loitering munitions.
Originally designed in Iran and widely deployed by Moscow from 2022, these drones are being launched in large numbers to strike deep targets, including energy infrastructure and strategic locations on Ukrainian territory.
The Shahed-136 features a delta wing configuration with wingtip stabilizers and is powered by a piston engine MD550 air-cooled, similar to that used in the projects restored by ZAMPOTECH. Traditionally, this motor is part of the drone design and costs between $12,000 and $17,000, according to technical analyses.
This type of drone operates like a guided munition: once launched, it heads towards a predetermined target with its explosive payload, without the possibility of returning. Estimated range can range from 1,000 to over 2,000 kilometers, and the Shahed can fly at speeds of up to around 185 km/h, making it a relatively low-cost, long-range strike tool compared to traditional missiles.
Since the invasion began in 2022, Russia has made extensive use of these drones in night and saturation attacks, seeking to overload Ukrainian anti-aircraft defenses with large volumes of aircraft during incursions.
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Source and images: Зампотех Омелянович – Facebook @zampotech.org | Military. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
