Shahed («Geran-2») type strike drones began to be equipped with a significantly heavier combat load, which increases the destructive effect of a single hit without changing the drone platform.
Shahed («Geran-2») type strike drones began to be equipped with a significantly heavier combat load, which increases the destructive effect of a single hit without changing the drone platform.
As noted in the message of the Telegram channel «Mines and coffee with sandwiches!», the Geran-2 drones are equipped with two separate serial warheads instead of one. These are high-explosive incendiary charges of the BST-52 type, weighing 50 kilograms each, which in total gives approximately 100 kilograms of explosive load.
Rather than creating a new integrated warhead, a simpler engineering solution is used, namely the mechanical placement of two ready-made charges that are already in mass production. This allows for rapid scaling to heavier configurations without changing the design of the drone itself.
The BST-52 warhead has a combined effect. The main charge provides a high-explosive effect, while ignition after the explosion is achieved by additional elements and an incendiary charge in a cumulative recess. This scheme increases the likelihood of fires and secondary destruction after impact.
According to open technical specifications, the BST-52 has a diameter of 300 mm and a length of 394 mm, and the mass of the actual explosive charge is 35.4 kilograms. The explosive substance used is octogen, barium perchlorate, aluminum powder and ethylene glycol dinitrate. Detonation is carried out by a bottom electronic fuse of the «493M» type.
The double combat load means not only an increase in explosive power, but also a change in the logic of drone use. Even a single hit of such a device can cause serious damage to infrastructure or industrial facilities, which previously required the use of several drones.
Previously, dev.ua wrote about how military expert Serhiy Flesh warned about Russian attempts to install repeaters for «Shaheeds» in private homes in Ukraine.
