Iranian-supplied Shahed-136 drones are said to be completely ineffective against low-altitude air defense systems, russia is currently actively using these suicide drones for conducting strikes on Ukraine. Ukrainian Army will soon use the spanish-supplied air defense systems along with the self-propelled anti-aircraft guns as Shilka and German Gepard which have proved to be highly effective against Iranian drones. These systems has already shot down some Shahed-136 drones.
Soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are currently actively learning how to destroy aerial threats such as the Shahed-136 suicide drone with the Aspide Defense System of Spain.
“The Ukrainian military will soon receive the Aspide Air Defense Missile System from Spain,” this information was confirmed by the Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles during a recent visit to the Airbase in Zaragoza.
Right now, Ukrainian servicemen are undergoing special training about how to use the spanish air defense missile system. The first group of 19 Ukrainian soldiers arrived at the base in Zaragoza two weeks ago.
The training mission was planned to be completed in three weeks, but was later extended by a week so the training of the first group of will last till October 14, 2022, while the 2nd Ukrainian group of soldiers will arrive in Spain on November 1, 2022.
It should be noted that the special training is divided into two parts, one for missile system operaters, and the other for service personnel, namely mechanical and electronic technicians. It is expected that Ukraine will receive these missile systems in November.
“The Spanish Defense Systems will strengthen the Ukrainian Army” the minister said in a statement.
At the end of August 2022, information appeared that Spain might send air defense missile systems to Ukraine. The Spada Aspide Missile Defense System consists of two missile launchers with 4 missiles, each also includes two 35mm anti-aircraft cannons.
As for missiles, Spain has in its stock 200 units of Aspide (up to 10 km range), as well as only 51 units of Apide 2000 missiles with twice the range (up to 20 km).
After initial difficulties because of surprise, recently the Ukrainian Army has found a way to combat these iranian drones that the russian military is using to strike Ukrainian Forces.
After the research of some of the captured Iranian UAVs, Ukraine found that Iran has used a gasoline engine similar to that of a motorcycle in these drones, rather than a compact and high-performance lithium-ion battery.
This type of engine emits very loud noise, so the Iranian suicide drones can be easily detected when they are approaching its target, in addition, because it runs on a gasoline engine, the heat signature of these iranian drones such as the Shahed-136 is also very large, making them a good target for heat-seeking missiles.
In addition, Iranian drone technology is not much advanced as compared to drones of western nations, iranian drones are vulnerable to modern electronic warfare systems.