The Shahed-136 is an Iranian-made kamikaze drone (also known as a loitering munition) developed by IRGC. It functions essentially as a low-cost, long-range cruise missile.

Design and Technical Specifications

The drone features a distinct delta-wing design:

Length: 3.5 meters
Wingspan: 2.5 meters
Weight: Around 200 kg
Warhead: High-explosive payload weighing 40 to 50 kg
Engine: MD-550 two-stroke piston engine (an Iranian copy of a German Limbach engine). It drives a pusher propeller, creating a loud, buzzing noise often compared to a lawnmower or moped.

Operation and Performance

Range: Extremely long for its size, with an estimated operational range between 1,000 and 2,500 kilometers.
Speed: Relatively slow, cruising at approximately 150–185 km/h.
Guidance: It relies on pre-programmed GPS/GLONASS coordinates combined with an inertial navigation system (INS). It cannot strike moving targets on its own.
Launch: Drones are fired in quick succession from racks mounted on civilian-style trucks or military platforms, using a rocket-assisted takeoff (RATO) booster that drops off after launch.

Strategic Impact

The primary advantage of the Shahed-136 is economic asymmetry. Each unit costs only about $20,000 to $40,000 to produce. Intercepting them with advanced air defense missiles (like NASAMS or Patriot) costs millions of dollars per shot.

By launching these drones in large swarms, forces aim to overwhelm air defenses, deplete enemy ammunition reserves, and strike critical infrastructure.

Shahed-136-v2