Bild: Iran for the first time provides Russia with the latest bombs for strikes in Ukraine
The use of Qaem-5 indicates a new level of military cooperation between Tehran and Moscow
The heavy Iranian Mohajer-6 drone that crashed this weekend in the Kursk region was carrying Iran's latest Qaem-5 guided bombs, Bild military expert Julian Repke said, commenting on video footage from the crash site.
Presumably, the drone was supposed to attack the territory of Sumy region, but failed to reach its target and crashed.
The munition on the photos and video does indeed look very similar to a Qaem-5, a small-diameter glide bomb that can be fitted to Iranian Mohajer-6 and Hamaseh UAVs.
This bomb has a television guidance system and can be equipped with various types of warheads. Its declared range is up to 40 km, with a minimum operating altitude of about 3 km. Iran adopted the system in August 2019.
Developed by Iranian company Qods Aviation Industries, the Mohajer-6 was put into mass production in 2018 and is considered Iran's most successful export drone. This drone is designed for both reconnaissance and combat operations, has a maximum take-off weight of 600 kg and a wingspan of 10 metres.
It is equipped with a three-blade Rotax 912 piston engine, which provides a maximum speed of 200 km/h, a ceiling of 5.5 km and a flight range of about 2,000 km.
Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Russian forces have operated the Mohajer-6, but without weapons. According to Repke, the use of the Qaem-5 indicates a new level of military cooperation between Tehran and Moscow.
Background. Experts estimate that the Russian industry produces artillery shells about three times faster than Europe and the United States, and about a quarter cheaper.
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