The first crash of the Iranian Mohajer-6 drone documented on Russian soil

The Russian army has been using Iranian drones since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine. Most frequently seen in the skies over Ukraine are Shahed-136s, which regularly attack defender positions. These are not the only Iranian constructions the Russians use for bombardments. The aggressor's army arsenal also includes, among others, Mohajer-6 drones, and one of them has, for the first time, fallen on Russian territory.

Various types of ammunition constantly fall on the territory of the Russian Federation. In May, Russians accidentally dropped at least two bombs on their own country. Earlier, due to a malfunction, Russian Kh-35 missiles, as well as Kalibr rockets, fell on Russian territory.

The mentioned Mohajer-6 drone is, however, a rarity, with documented destruction appearing only twice since the beginning of the war in Ukraine. In the first instance, it was shot down by Ukrainians, and in the second incident, the Iranian drone was shot down in Crimea, most likely due to friendly fire.

The Mohajer-6 found in the Kursk region bordering Ukraine is the third confirmed destruction of this machine and the first to have occurred on Russian territory and been documented on video. The video was quickly removed, but copies started appearing online.

Defense Express notes that the drone that crashed in Russia was armed with Ghaem-5 bombs, which—according to Iranian sources—have a range of 7-12 miles (depending on launch height). However, it is possible that an enhanced type of Ghaem-5 missile capable of reaching targets up to 25 miles away was found under the wings of the crashed Mohajer-6.

This drone, produced in 2018, is about 25 feet long and has a wingspan of approximately 33 feet. It is, therefore, a relatively large drone that can carry a payload weighing up to 330 pounds. It is powered by a 4-stroke internal combustion engine (an Austrian Rotax 914 or an Iranian HESA), which propels the construction to a maximum speed of 125 mph (cruising speed is 80 mph).

The operational range of the Mohajer-6 is around 1,500 miles, while the communication range with the ground station, operated by a two-person crew, is 310 miles. The drone can climb to an altitude of 25,000 feet and perform flights for 12 hours.

Although the Mohajer-6 is a relatively new model, Iran introduced another version of this drone in 2023. Engineers at Qods are already working on the new Mohajer-10, which will be able to carry payloads weighing 660 pounds over a distance of 1,200 miles.