Aircraft & UAVs

Garpiya-A1

Also known as
  • Garpiya A1
  • Garpiya-1A
  • Garpiya 1A
  • Harpy-A1
  • Garpija-A1
  • Garpiya
  • Harpy

Garpiya-A1 is a Russian long-range one-way attack UAV attributed in Reuters reporting to Izhevsk Electromechanical Plant (IEMZ) Kupol and a Chinese engine/component supply chain. Public reporting describes it as Shahed-like, powered by Xiamen Limbach L-550E engines, produced from 2023, and used by Russian forces in Ukraine; later sanctions and Reuters-syndicated reporting place it inside the wider Garpiya production network rather than an isolated drone model.

Garpiya-A1, Long-range one-way attack UAV / loitering munition, Aircraft & UAVs
Image source: Shahed 136s display image

Role in Conflicts

2014 Russia-Ukraine War
Long-Range StrikeInterdiction
Side
Russia

Reuters-syndicated reporting and a Reuters mirror identify Garpiya-A1 as a Russian long-range attack drone produced by IEMZ Kupol with Chinese engines and parts, deployed by Russia in Ukraine against military and civilian targets.

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Russia / China-supported component and production network
Built in
RussiaChina
Type
Long-range one-way attack UAV / loitering munition
Service note
2023-present 2014 Russia-Ukraine War reporting
Designer
Izhevsk Electromechanical Plant (IEMZ) with Chinese engine and component supply chain, according to Reuters-derived reporting
Designed
Production contract and prototype activity reported in early 2023
Produced
Reported production from 2023; more than 2,500 Garpiya drones reportedly produced from July 2023 to July 2024
Number built
Reuters-derived reporting says more than 2,500 Garpiya drones were produced by IEMZ Kupol between July 2023 and July 2024

Specifications

Role
Long-range one-way attack UAV / loitering munition
Reported range
1,500 km in Reuters-derived reporting
Maximum takeoff weight
Under 300 kg in Reuters-derived reporting
Engine
Limbach L-550E engine produced by Xiamen Limbach Aircraft Engine Co., Ltd., according to Reuters-derived reporting and U.S. Treasury sanctions material
Design comparison
Reported as closely resembling Iranian-designed Shahed drones, with distinguishing features including a bolt-on fin
Manufacturer
Izhevsk Electromechanical Plant (IEMZ) Kupol, a subsidiary of Almaz-Antey
Reported production site
Former cement factory in Izhevsk, Udmurtia, identified in Reuters-derived reporting as a drone production site
Reported production volume
More than 2,500 Garpiya drones from July 2023 to July 2024 in Reuters-derived reporting
Production network
Garpiya-series production coordinated by IEMZ Kupol with PRC-based factories and suppliers before transfer to Russia, according to U.S. Treasury sanctions material
Guidance
Not publicly specified for Garpiya-A1 in reviewed sources
Warhead
Not publicly specified for Garpiya-A1 in reviewed sources
Variants

Open reporting treats Garpiya-A1 as the earlier Garpiya-family attack UAV and Garpiya-3/G3 as a later model developed and flight-tested through a China-linked program.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
Garpiya-3, Long-range one-way attack UAV / loitering munition, Aircraft & UAVsGarpiya-3Later Garpiya-family model

Reuters-derived reporting separates Garpiya-3/G3 from the A1 by describing a newer model developed and flight-tested in China with a reported 2,000 km range and 50 kg payload.

Sources: Jerusalem Post Garpiya-3 Reuters Report, United24 Garpiya-3 Reuters Summary

Timeline

Garpiya-A1 Key Events

  1. Garpiya-A1 production begins, according to Reuters-derived reporting

    Reuters-derived reporting says Russia began producing Garpiya-A1 long-range attack drones in 2023 using Chinese engines and parts.

    Sources: Reuters Garpiya-A1 BHR Mirror, Ukrainska Pravda Garpiya-A1 Reuters Summary

  2. A1 production and Ukraine use reported

    Multiple Reuters-syndicated summaries reported that IEMZ Kupol had produced more than 2,500 Garpiya drones from July 2023 to July 2024 and that Garpiya-A1 had been used in Ukraine.

    Sources: Moscow Times Garpiya-A1 Reuters Summary, United24 Garpiya-A1 Reuters Summary, Ukrainska Pravda Garpiya-A1 Reuters Summary

  3. U.S. sanctions Garpiya production network

    The U.S. Treasury sanctioned companies and an individual tied to Garpiya-series UAV development and production for Russia's war against Ukraine, identifying IEMZ Kupol, Xiamen Limbach, Redlepus, and TSK Vektor roles.

    Sources: US Treasury Garpiya Production Sanctions

  4. Reuters reports continued engine supply workarounds

    Reuters-syndicated reporting said Kupol continued expanding Garpiya production after sanctions, using new intermediaries and transport routes to obtain Chinese-made L550E engines.

    Sources: Jerusalem Post Garpiya-A1 Engines Reuters Report

Identification And Production Context

Public sources identify Garpiya-A1 through intelligence-derived documents, production reporting, sanctions material, and comparisons with Shahed-family one-way attack drones. The strongest model-specific evidence is Reuters-derived reporting on A1 production and use in Ukraine; official sanctions material is broader and describes the Garpiya series production network.

Model boundary

Garpiya-A1 is treated as the earlier reported Garpiya family model, distinct from the later Garpiya-3/G3 page.

Sources: Reuters Garpiya-A1 BHR Mirror; United24 Garpiya-A1 Reuters Summary.

Engine and components

Reuters-derived reports identify the Chinese-produced Xiamen Limbach L-550E engine and Chinese parts as central to the A1 production chain.

Sources: Moscow Times Garpiya-A1 Reuters Summary; US Treasury Garpiya Production Sanctions.

Image caveat

No reviewed open-license image clearly showed a confirmed Garpiya-A1. The gallery therefore uses a clearly licensed Shahed-136-family display image as representative visual context for the reported airframe class.

Source: Shahed 136s display image.

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Sources

Reuters Garpiya-A1 BHR MirrorPublisher: Business & Human Rights Resource Centre | Note: Reuters article mirror supporting Garpiya-A1 identity, Chinese engines and parts, IEMZ Kupol production, more than 2,500 Garpiya drones from July 2023 to July 2024, Shahed-like features, and 2014 Russia-Ukraine War deployment by Russia in Ukraine. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Moscow Times Garpiya-A1 Reuters SummaryPublisher: The Moscow Times | Note: 2014 Russia-Ukraine War: supports Garpiya-A1 deployed by Russia in Ukraine, plus IEMZ Kupol production, reported 1,500 km range, under-300 kg maximum takeoff weight, Xiamen Limbach L-550E engine context, and Izhevsk production-site reporting. | Accessed: 2026-07-02United24 Garpiya-A1 Reuters SummaryPublisher: United24 Media | Note: 2014 Russia-Ukraine War: supports Garpiya-A1 used by Russia against Ukrainian military and civilian targets, plus Chinese engines and components and the caveat that Reuters could not independently verify provided wreckage images. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Ukrainska Pravda Garpiya-A1 Reuters SummaryPublisher: Ukrainska Pravda | Note: 2014 Russia-Ukraine War: supports Garpiya-A1 used by Russia against Ukrainian military and civilian targets, plus production from 2023, more than 2,500 Garpiya drones between July 2023 and July 2024, and IEMZ Kupol/Almaz-Antey context. | Accessed: 2026-07-02UNN Harpy-A1 Reuters SummaryPublisher: Ukrainian National News | Note: 2014 Russia-Ukraine War: supports Harpy-A1/Garpiya-A1 used by Russia in Ukraine, plus transliteration aliases, Chinese engine/component context, Shahed resemblance, reported bolt-on fin, prototype and production ramp-up reporting, 1,500 km range, and under-300 kg takeoff weight. | Accessed: 2026-07-02US Treasury Garpiya Production SanctionsPublisher: U.S. Department of the Treasury | Note: Supports Garpiya-series production-network context, IEMZ Kupol coordination, Xiamen Limbach L550E engine role, Redlepus and TSK Vektor supplier/procurement roles, and transfer of PRC-produced Garpiya drones to Russia for use against Ukraine. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Jerusalem Post Garpiya-A1 Engines Reuters ReportPublisher: The Jerusalem Post | Note: Reuters-syndicated report supporting continued Garpiya production growth, post-sanctions L550E engine supply through new intermediaries, routing to Izhevsk, and broader Garpiya-family production context. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Jerusalem Post Garpiya-3 Reuters ReportPublisher: The Jerusalem Post | Note: Reuters-syndicated report supporting Garpiya-3/G3 as a later Garpiya-family model developed and flight-tested in China, with reported 2,000 km range and 50 kg payload. | Accessed: 2026-07-02United24 Garpiya-3 Reuters SummaryPublisher: United24 Media | Note: Reuters-derived summary supporting the distinction between Garpiya-A1 and later Garpiya-3/G3 family reporting. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Shahed 136s display imagePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for a CC BY 4.0 representative Shahed-136-family image used because no reviewed open-license image clearly showed a confirmed Garpiya-A1. | Accessed: 2026-07-02