Garpiya
Russian long-range combat drone family used in Ukraine and Mali.
The Garpiya is a family of long-range combat drones developed by IEMZ Kupol, a subsidiary of Almaz-Antey, for use in the Russo-Ukrainian War. The company set up a factory in China to produce kits for export to Russia, while the main assembly facility is in Izhevsk, housed in a former concrete plant acquired in 2020. The drones incorporate Chinese engines, parts, and technology but are assembled in Russia. According to the company, 500 units were built in the second half of 2023, and 2,000 in the first half of 2024.
Their use and production were first extensively reported by Reuters in 2024. The Garpiya-A1 has been used against both civilian and military targets in Ukraine. By 2025, around 500 Garpiya variants were reportedly deployed each month in the conflict. The Russian Africa Corps has also used the Garpiya-A1 in the Mali War, with wreckage of a KK variant found near Sévaré in May 2026.
The design resembles the HESA Shahed 136, and the engine is a Limbach L550E from Xiamen Limbach. Variants include the Garpiya-1A (initial variant) and the Garpiya-3 (advanced variant).
- Manufacturer
- IEMZ Kupol (subsidiary of Almaz-Antey)
- First reported use
- 2024
- Production (h2 2023)
- 500 drones
- Production (h1 2024)
- 2,000 drones
- Monthly use in ukraine (2025)
- around 500 variants
- Main russian assembly location
- Izhevsk (former concrete plant acquired in 2020)
- Engine
- Limbach L550E from Xiamen Limbach
Lore & Background
The Garpiya is produced by IEMZ Kupol, which set up a factory in China to produce kits for export to Russia, while the main Russian manufacturing facility is in Izhevsk, located in a former concrete plant acquired in 2020. The drones incorporate engines, parts, and technology from China but are assembled in Russia. According to the company, 500 drones were produced in the second half of 2023 and 2,000 in the first half of 2024.
The Garpiya is similar in design to the HESA Shahed 136 and uses a Limbach L550E engine from Xiamen Limbach. Variants include the Garpiya-1A (initial variant) and the Garpiya-3 (advanced variant). The Garpiya-A1 has been used against Ukrainian civilian and military targets in the Russo-Ukrainian War. In 2025, around 500 Garpiya variants were reportedly being used each month in Ukraine. The Russian Africa Corps have also deployed the Garpiya-A1 during the Mali War, with the wreckage of a KK variant found near Sévaré in May 2026.
Reader's Guide
The Garpiya family represents a significant development in Russian long-range drone capabilities, with production ramping up rapidly from 500 units in the second half of 2023 to 2,000 in the first half of 2024. Its use in the Russo-Ukrainian War, including against civilian and military targets, and its deployment by the Russian Africa Corps in the Mali War, demonstrate its role in multiple theaters. The design similarity to the HESA Shahed 136 and the reliance on Chinese engines and components highlight the international supply chain behind the drone. The establishment of a factory in China for kit production and the assembly in Izhevsk underscore the logistical arrangements sustaining its manufacture. By 2025, the monthly usage of around 500 variants in Ukraine indicates its sustained operational importance. The discovery of a KK variant wreckage near Sévaré in May 2026 further confirms its use in African conflicts.
Did You Know?
- Its main Russian assembly facility is in Izhevsk, in a former concrete plant acquired in 2020.
- A KK variant wreckage was found near Sévaré, Mali, in May 2026.
More in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles by Country, Part 5 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced