Inside a downed Shahed-136: How off-the-shelf tech powers Russia's deadly drones

A recent teardown of a recovered camera from a downed Shahed-136 drone in Ukraine has revealed its internal components. The analysis shows a mix of off-the-shelf electronics and some custom parts. Many of these drones are deployed during night-time attacks on Ukrainian territory. The camera system includes a thermal imaging module, allowing operations in low-light conditions. Its electronics consist of an Artix-7 FPGA-based board and an Hi3519 system-on-chip (SoC) to process the video feed. The power supply and relay boards are standard development modules, while the air data computer may also have been purchased from AliExpress.

The gimbal assembly, which stabilises the camera, appears to have been sourced from the same online marketplace. It contains Western-made components, suggesting a reliance on commercially available parts. Unlike Russian missile systems, which use more custom hardware, the Shahed-136’s design has evolved since Russia began deploying it.

Some versions of the drone now include a gimbal-mounted camera for surveillance tasks. These modifications indicate ongoing adjustments to the drone’s capabilities. The findings highlight the drone’s use of accessible, off-the-shelf technology for key functions. Its thermal camera and gimbal system enable night-time operations, matching the timing of most attacks. The teardown provides insight into how the Shahed-136 has been adapted since entering service with Russian forces.