Shahed-136 is a precision-attack loitering munition system developed by the Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company (HESA), a subsidiary of the Iran Aviation Industries Organization, a state-owned aerospace company controlled by Iran’s Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics.
The suicide drone has been in service with the Iranian military since 2021. Russia also imported Shahed-136 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to use in the war against Ukraine. The drones have been rebranded as Geran-2 or Geranium-2 by Russia.
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The Shahed Aviation Industries Research Centre, a unit of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force, is responsible for the design and manufacture of Shahed-series UAVs used by Russia.
Shahed-136 drone usage in US-Israel-Iran war
Iran has deployed the Shahed-136 loitering munition in large numbers in response to the ongoing US-Israeli joint military campaign, codenamed Operation Epic Fury and Operation Roaring Lion, which began in February 2026.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated that Iran had also launched these drones over populated areas such as Dezful, Esfahan and Shiraz, resulting in civilian casualties.
According to media reports, the drone has been central to Iran’s military strategy in the Middle East crisis, targeting US and partner defence sites across allied countries while delivering effects at a fraction of the cost of cruise or ballistic missiles.
The US had to deploy high-cost interceptors such as the Patriot system against the drones, increasing the financial burden on its forces, the reports added.
Subsequently, the US launched the Low-cost Uncrewed (Unmanned) Combat Attack System one-way attack drones to counter the Shahed-136 drones.
In March 2026, CENTCOM’s Admiral Brad Cooper stated that Iranian drone attacks had fallen by 82% since the start of Operation Epic Fury.
Shahed-136 Kamikaze UAV design details
The Shahed-136 drone measures 3.5m (11.5ft) long and 2.5m wide and weighs 200kg (441lb). It is designed with a delta-wing shape, with stabilising rudders at the tips. The fuselage of the aircraft is centralised and blended into the wings.
The portable assault drone can carry up to 40kg of warheads in its nose section and can be mounted and launched from a military or commercial truck.
Propulsion system and performance details of Shahed-136 drone
The Shahed-136 Kamikaze UAV is launched using a rocket situated below the fuselage, which gets separated by a pod jettison system immediately after launch.
Further, a conventional Mado MD550 four-cylinder, two-stroke piston engine situated at the rear of the fuselage drives a two-blade pusher propeller to move the drone forward.
The drone can achieve a maximum speed of 185km/h and is said to have a range of 2,500km.
Other variants of the Shahed-series UAVs
Iran has developed several UAVs within the Shahed family of drones for different operations.
Shahed-131, renamed Geran-1 by Russian forces, is a smaller version of the Shahed-136 drone. Shahed-131 is visually similar to the Shahed-136, but its wingtip stabilisers extend only up, whereas those on Shahed-136 can extend both up and down.
Shahed-121 is an unarmed intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance variant, while Shahed-123 is another smaller drone within the family that the IRGC used in Syria in 2013.
The Shahed-171 drone, launched in 2014, is similar to the US UAV RQ-170, which was shot down by Iran in December 2011.
Shahed-129 is a reconnaissance and attack drone, which can carry a maximum payload of 400kg. It is claimed to have a range of 2,000km and a long endurance of up to 24 hours.
Shahed-149, also called Gaza, is the largest variant within the family, which is similar to the American MQ-9 Reaper UAV in shape, size and role. It is a new medium-altitude long-endurance UAV launched by Iran in 2021.
Some of the other variants of the UAV include Shahed-141, Shahed-191 and Shahed-783.
Iran reportedly unveiled an enhanced version of the Shahed-136 drone with an operational range of 4,000km in September 2024.
An upgraded Shahed-136 (Geran) drone with a heavier 90kg warhead was unveiled by Russia in 2025.
Controversies surrounding Shahed-series UAVs
The Iranian-design Shahed-series drones have been controversial over the years because of their alleged use in launching attacks in Syria, Ukraine and other countries.
In 2018, Israel claimed to have shot down a Shahed-series UAV, which allegedly infiltrated Israeli airspace from Syria.
The US also accused Iran of using Shahed-136 UAVs to support Houthi rebels in Yemen by providing them with intelligence and targeting assistance. The drones were also claimed to have been used in attacks against Saudi Arabian oil facilities in September 2019.
With Russia using Shahed-series Kamikaze drones in Ukraine, the EU countries imposed sanctions on Iran over the supply of drones to Russia in October 2022. The US also sanctioned companies involved in the production or transfer of Iranian UAVs to Russia a month later.
