| Shahed 136 | |
|---|---|
| File:Shahed136lm.png | |
| Type | Loitering munition |
| Place of origin |
 Iran |
| Service history | |
| Used by |
 Iran Armed Forces Russia Army Houthis[1] (alleged) |
| Wars | Yemeni war, Ukraine war (2022), Iran–PJAK conflict |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Shahed Aviation Industries |
| Manufacturer | HESA |
| Unit cost | $20,000 (estimate)[2] |
| No. built | Unknown |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 200 kg (440 lb) |
| Length | 3.5 m (11 ft) |
|
| |
| Warhead weight | 40 kg (88 lb) |
|
| |
| Engine | MD-550 piston engine |
| Wingspan | 2.5 m (8.2 ft) |
| Maximum speed | around 185 km/h (115 mph) |
Guidance system | Autonomous |
Launch platform | Rocket Assisted Take Off |
The HESA Shahed 136 (Persian: شاهد ۱۳۶, literally "Witness-136"), also known as its Russian designation Geran-2 (Russian: Герань-2, literally "Geranium-2"), is an Iranian loitering munition autonomous swarm pusher-prop aerial drone in service since 2021, developed by HESA. At its core, it is designed to neutralize ground targets from a distance. The drone is fired in multiples from a ready launch rack (in batches of five upwards) and is designed to evade air defenses and overwhelm ground targets, consuming systems during the attack. The drone was revealed in December 2021 through published footage. The system is believed to first have been actively deployed to Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen,[3] before being actively used by the Russian Army during their invasion of Ukraine, from September 2022.[4][5]
Overview[]
The aircraft has a cropped delta-wing shape, with a central fuselage blending into the wings and stabilizing rudders at the tips. The nose section contains the warhead as well as the optics required for a precision attack. The engine sits in the rear of the fuselage and drives a two-bladed propeller in a "pusher" arrangement.[3][6] The drone is 3.5 metres (11 ft) long with a wingspan of 2.5 metres (8.2 ft), flies at over 185 kilometres per hour (115 mph), and weighs about 200 kilograms (440 lb).[7] Maximum distance about 2,500 kilometers [8]
The aircraft are launched nearly horizontally at a slight upward angle and are assisted in the initial phase of flight by rocket launch assistance (RATO). The rocket is jettisoned immediately after launch, whereupon the drone's conventional Iranian-made Mado MD-550 four-cylinder piston engine (possibly a reverse-engineered Limbach L550E, also used in other Iranian drones such as the Ababil-3[9]) takes over.[10] Because of the portability of the launch frame and drone assembly, the entire unit can be mounted on the back of any military or commercial truck, enabling mobile "hit-and-run" operations that can thwart countermeasures.
Combat history[]
2014 Yemeni Civil War[]
According to Newsweek, the drone has been used by the Houthis in the Yemeni Civil War during 2020.[1]
2022 Russian War in Ukraine[]
A remnant of a Shahed-136 near Kupiansk, Kharkiv Oblast.
In the months prior to the confirmation of their use, US intelligence sources and Ukrainian officials have claimed that Iran had supplied Russia with several hundred drones including Shahed-136s, although Iran has repeatedly denied this.[11] Iran has yet to officially announce the delivery of any form of military aid to Russia, although Major General Salami has alluded that "major world powers are using Iranian-made arms".[12]
On 13 September 2022, initial use of the drone was indicated by photos of the remains of a Shahed-136 inscribed with Russian: Герань-2, lit. 'Geranium'-2,[7] operated by Russian forces during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[6][13] According to Rodion Kugalin, the Ukrainian artillery Commander of the 92nd Brigade, Shahed 136 drones destroyed four howitzers and two BTRs during the Kharkiv offensive.[14] On 23 September, further use of the drones was recorded in Odesa, where videos of their flyover and subsequent impact were uploaded on various Telegram channels. Notably, the drones were audibly engaged with small arms fire, which did not seem to have shot down any of the aircraft. On 25 September, videos posted on social media shows intensified use of the drone by the Russian forces around Odesa and Dnipro cities. This time, along with small arms, some form of anti-aircraft rotary cannon was employed, along with surface-to-air missiles, downing at least one Geran. A number of the drones were able to hit unknown targets, although there are claims the Ukrainian Navy Headquarters in Odessa was hit.[15][16]
In response to these initial attacks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has denounced it as "a collaboration with evil". Diplomatic ties between Iran and Ukraine were reduced in Ukraine as another consequence of the attacks.[17]
In the early hours of 5 October the Geran were able to reach Bila Tserkva. This marks the first time that these drones were able to reach Kyiv region.[18] Ukrainian soldiers claim it can be heard from several kilometers away and are vulnerable to small arms fire.[19]
Ukrainian sources have stated that they deployed MiG-29 fighter aircraft to shoot down these suicide drones with some success, claiming that they used a similar strategy to shoot down cruise missiles such as the Kalibr.[20] These aircraft participated in the October missile strikes that disabled large sections of the Ukrainian power grid.[21] On 13 October 2022, a Ukrainian MiG-29 crashed in Vinnytsia while attempting to shoot down a Geran-2. Ukrainian sources say that after the drone detonated near the jet, shrapnel struck the cockpit forcing the pilot to eject.[22]
Iraqi Kurdistan[]
In 2022, the ground forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps used the Shahed 136 drone in attacks on headquarters of Kurdish separatist group in the Kurdistan region of Iraq.[23]
Operators[]
Dark blue: Countries operating Shahed-136. Light blue: non-state operators (Houthis)
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See also[]
- Related development
- Shahed 121
- Shahed 129
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
- Related lists
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Exclusive: Iran deploys "suicide drones" in Yemen as Red Sea tensions rise" (in en). 13 January 2021. https://www.newsweek.com/iran-suicide-drones-yemen-red-sea-tensions-1561395.
- ↑ Segura, Cristian (12 October 2022). "Iranian 'suicide' drones: Russia's new favorite weapon in Ukraine war". https://english.elpais.com/international/2022-10-12/iranian-suicide-drones-russias-new-favorite-weapon-in-ukraine-war.html.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "HESA Shahed-136". https://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.php?aircraft_id=2520#specifications.
- ↑ "Russia-Ukraine war News: Ukraine to reduce Iran embassy presence over Russia drone attacks". Al Jazeera. 24 September 2022. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/9/24/ukraine-to-reduce-iran-embassy-presence-over-russia-drone-attacks.
- ↑ Hird, Karolina; Bailey, Riley; Mappes, Grace; Barros, George; Kagan, Frederick W. (October 12, 2022). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, October 12". https://understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-october-12.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Military Watch Magazine". https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/iranian-suicide-drones-debut-ukraine.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "Iranian Shahed-136 Kamikaze Drones Already Used By Russia". 13 September 2022. https://en.defence-ua.com/weapon_and_tech/iranian_shahed_136_kamikaze_drones_already_used_by_russia_first_photos_and_specs-4207.html.
- ↑ "Russia's 'Slow' Iranian-Made Drones Are 'Easy to Target' by Air Defense: UK" (in en). https://www.newsweek.com/russias-slow-iranian-made-drones-are-easy-target-air-defense-uk-1751212.
- ↑ "(s) Uae-Based Intermediary Working to Supply Iranian Entity with German-Origin Uav Engines". 12 May 2008. https://www.wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/08STATE50301_a.html.
- ↑ "Shahed-136: іранські дрони-камікадзе, які видають звук "мопеда" та вибухають у вказаній точці" (in uk). 2022-10-05. https://tsn.ua/ukrayina/shahed-136-iranski-droni-kamikadze-yaki-vidayut-zvuk-mopeda-ta-vibuhayut-u-vkazaniy-tochci-2173474.html.
- ↑ Beaumont, Peter (29 September 2022). "Russia escalating use of Iranian 'kamikaze' drones in Ukraine". https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/sep/29/russia-escalating-use-of-iranian-kamikaze-drones-ukraine-reports-say.
- ↑ "Top World Powers Using Iranian Arms: IRGC Chief - Politics news". https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2022/09/01/2767761/top-world-powers-using-iranian-arms-irgc-chief.
- ↑ Dangwal, Ashish (13 September 2022). "1st Evidence Of Russia-Operated Iranian Suicide Drone Emerges in Ukraine; Kiev Claims Downing Shahed-136 UAV" (in en-US). https://eurasiantimes.com/1st-evidence-of-russia-operated-iranian-drones-emerges-in-ukraine/.
- ↑ "Russia's Use of Iranian Kamikaze Drones Creates New Dangers for Ukrainian Troops". The Wall Street Journal. 17 September 2022. https://www.wsj.com/articles/russias-use-of-iranian-kamikaze-drones-creates-new-dangers-for-ukrainian-troops-11663415140.
- ↑ Nikolai11449196 (25 September 2022). "More Shahed 136 drone attacks in Odessa. These drones seem to easily get through air defence." (in en). https://twitter.com/Nikolai11449196/status/1573953106626465792.
- ↑ ARminhTran (25 September 2022). "伊朗Shahed-136 在 袭击敖德萨的一座建筑物" (in zh). https://twitter.com/ARminhTran/status/1574074990374182912.
- ↑ Ljunggren, David (23 September 2022). "Ukraine to slash ties with Iran over 'evil' drones supply to Russia". Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-says-it-downed-four-iranian-drones-zelenskiy-raps-tehran-2022-09-23/.
- ↑ "Рыбарь". https://t.me/rybar/39767.
- ↑ "Ukrainian soldiers tell how they deal with Iranian kamikaze drones used by Russia". Yahoo. 7 October 2022. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/ukrainian-soldiers-tell-deal-iranian-142800996.html.
- ↑ https://en.defence-ua.com/news/for_the_first_time_ukrainian_air_force_uses_mig_29_fighters_to_eliminate_drones_against_shahed_136-4453.html
- ↑ Agencies and TOI staff. "Zelensky: Russia used Iran-made drones, missiles in deadly strikes on several cities" (in en-US). https://www.timesofisrael.com/zelensky-russia-used-iran-made-drones-missiles-in-deadly-strikes-on-several-cities/.
- ↑ https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/ukrainian-claims-mig-29-pilot-downed-five-drones-before-ejecting
- ↑ "VIDEO: Moment when Shahed-136 drone hits terrorists bases" (in en). 2022-10-02. https://en.mehrnews.com/news/191995/VIDEO-Moment-when-Shahed-136-drone-hits-terrorists-bases.
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