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HESA Shahed 136

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Shahed 136
File:Shahed136lm.png
TypeLoitering munition
Place of origin Iran
Service history
Used by Iran
 Russia
 Houthis[1] (alleged)
WarsYemeni war, Ukraine war (2022), Iran–PJAK conflict, September-October 2022 attacks on Iraqi Kurdistan
Production history
DesignerShahed Aviation Industries
ManufacturerHESA
Unit costUnknown, various estimates from $20,000 to €50,000 each[2][3]
No. builtUnknown
Specifications
Mass200 kg (440 lb)
Length3.5 m (11 ft)
Wingspan2.5 m (8.2 ft)
Warhead weight40 kg (88 lb)
EngineMD-550 piston engine
Maximum speed around 185 km/h (115 mph)
Guidance
system
Autonomous GLONASS[4]
Launch
platform
Rocket Assisted Take Off

The HESA Shahed 136 (Persian: شاهد ۱۳۶, literally "Witness-136") is an Iranian loitering munition autonomous swarm pusher-prop aerial drone officially in service since 2021, developed by HESA. At its core, it is designed to attack ground targets from a distance. The relatively cheap drone is fired in multiples from a launch rack (in batches of five upwards) and is designed to evade air defenses and overwhelm ground targets, consuming air defense resources 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.[5]

During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ukraine and its Western allies accused Russia of using the Shahed-136 from September 2022, albeit re-branded with a Russian designation Geran-2 (Russian: Герань-2, literally "Geranium-2").[6][7][8] Iran repeatedly denied sending arms for use in the Ukraine war, maintaining that it is neutral in the war and saying the claims are baseless and part of propaganda campaign against Iran.[9][10][8]

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.[5][11] 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).[12] The range has been estimated as between 1,800 and 2,500 kilometres (1,100 and 1,600 miles) providing a loitering capability.[12][13]

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[14]) takes over.[15] 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.[citation needed]

Despite no markings, Ukrainian experts believe the Shahed 136 uses a computer processor manufactured by the American company Altera, but they were uncertain if it was on unrestricted civilian sale.[16][17]

Various colloquial terms have been used for these drones due to their ubiquity, such as "mopeds" or "lawnmowers", alluding to the signature loud sound of their engine in flight, and "doritos", in reference to their delta-winged silhouette.[18][19]

Combat history

2014 Yemeni Civil War

See also: Abqaiq–Khurais attack

The drone has reportedly been used by the Houthis in the Yemeni Civil War during 2020.[1][better source needed]

2022 Russian war in Ukraine

File:M214 ГЕPAНЬ-2 drone remnants near Kupiansk, Kharkiv region (1).jpg
Part of a drone shot down near Kupiansk, Kharkiv Oblast, on September 2022 and considered by Ukraine to be an Iranian made Shahed-136.
See also: 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine

Appearance

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.[20] 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".[21]

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,[12] operated by Russian forces during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[11][22] 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.[23] 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.[24][25]

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.[26]

On October 5 2022, at least one Geranium drone took part in the bombing of barracks hosting soldiers from the 72nd Mechanized Brigade in Bila Tserkva.[27][28]

Ukrainian soldiers claim they can be heard from several kilometers away and are vulnerable to small arms fire.[29]

On October 8, 2022 a Geranium drone bombed barracks hosting soldiers from the 55th Artillery Brigade in Zaporizhzhia.[30]

Ukrainian sources stated they deployed MiG-29 fighter aircraft to shoot down these drones with success, claiming that they used a similar strategy to shoot down cruise missiles such as the Kalibr.[31]

October waves

These aircraft participated in the October missile strikes that disabled large sections of the Ukrainian power grid.[32] On 13 October 2022, a Ukrainian MiG-29 crashed in Vinnytsia while attempting to shoot down a Geran-2. According to Ukrainian sources, the drone detonated near the jet and shrapnel struck the cockpit which forced the pilot to eject.[33][34]

In the morning of October 17th Kyiv was once again attacked by several of these drones, and once again they were engaged by massed ground fire from small-caliber automatic weapons, as captured in a number of instances. Despite the presence of these and more adequate air-defense systems, the drones reportedly managed to hit several locations, including the offices of Ukrenergo. Other energy infrastructure facilities were also reported to be attacked, leading to concerns of blackouts around the affected infrastructure. 4 civilians in Kyiv were killed in the strike.[35][36][37]

The Ukrainian Minister of Internal Affairs has told civilians to stop attempting to shoot down drones with their personal firearms, urging them to "leave the matter to law enforcement officers and the military".[38] The cost-benefit analysis of using these drones in strikes versus the defending air defense is in favor of the Shahed drones, being about half the cost of the defenses- such as emplaced surface-to-air missile systems- employed against them.[3] The shooting down of the drones after they have reached cities can lead to large-scale collateral damage.[3]

Iraqi Kurdistan

See also: September-October 2022 attacks on 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.[39]

Operators

Dark blue: Countries operating Shahed-136. Light blue: non-state operators (Houthis)

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References

  1. ^ a b c "Exclusive: Iran deploys "suicide drones" in Yemen as Red Sea tensions rise". Newsweek. 13 January 2021. Archived from the original on 17 October 2022. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  2. ^ Segura, Cristian (12 October 2022). "Iranian 'suicide' drones: Russia's new favorite weapon in Ukraine war". El Pail. Archived from the original on 17 October 2022. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  3. ^ a b c Boffey, Daniel (19 October 2022). "Financial toll on Ukraine of downing drones 'vastly exceeds Russian costs'". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  4. ^ https://eurasiantimes.com/hitting-bulls-eye-russia-has-upgraded-iranian-shahed-136-kamikaze/
  5. ^ a b "HESA Shahed-136". militaryfactory.com. Archived from the original on 17 October 2022. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  6. ^ "Russia-Ukraine war News: Ukraine to reduce Iran embassy presence over Russia drone attacks". Al Jazeera. 24 September 2022. Archived from the original on 17 October 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  7. ^ Hird, Karolina; Bailey, Riley; Mappes, Grace; Barros, George; Kagan, Frederick W. (12 October 2022). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, October 12". Institute of the Study of War. Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment. Washington, DC. Institute of the Study of War. Archived from the original on 14 October 2022. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  8. ^ a b Motamedi, Maziar. "Iran says ready to talk to Ukraine on claims of arming Russia". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  9. ^ "Iranian foreign ministry spokesman reacts to some claims about shipment of arms including military drones by Iran to Ukraine". en.mfa.ir. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  10. ^ Raine, Niamh Kennedy,Negar Mahmoodi,Ivana Kottasová,Andrew (16 October 2022). "Iran denies supplying Russia with weapons for use in Ukraine". CNN. Retrieved 18 October 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. ^ a b "Military Watch Magazine". militarywatchmagazine.com. Archived from the original on 16 September 2022. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  12. ^ a b c d "Iranian Shahed-136 Kamikaze Drones Already Used By Russia". Defense Express. Kyiv. 13 September 2022. Archived from the original on 17 October 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  13. ^ "Russia's 'Slow' Iranian-Made Drones Are 'Easy to Target' by Air Defense: UK". Newsweek. 12 October 2022. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  14. ^ "(s) Uae-Based Intermediary Working to Supply Iranian Entity with German-Origin Uav Engines". 12 May 2008. Archived from the original on 2 December 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2022. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  15. ^ "Shahed-136: іранські дрони-камікадзе, які видають звук "мопеда" та вибухають у вказаній точці". ТСН.ua (in Ukrainian). 5 October 2022. Archived from the original on 12 October 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  16. ^ "У Shahed-136 знайшли розвинений пристрій радіозв'язку на американських процесорах | Defense Express". defence-ua.com (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  17. ^ "An Advanced Radio Communication Device on American Processors Found in the Shahed-136". Defense Express. Kyiv. 6 October 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  18. ^ "What are 'kamikaze' Shahed drones and how do they work?". Independent.ie. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  19. ^ "Ukraine Situation Report: Iranian Officials Admit To Selling Russia Ballistic Missile". MSN. 19 October 2022. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  20. ^ Beaumont, Peter (29 September 2022). "Russia escalating use of Iranian 'kamikaze' drones in Ukraine". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 29 September 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  21. ^ "Top World Powers Using Iranian Arms: IRGC Chief - Politics news". Archived from the original on 2 September 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  22. ^ Dangwal, Ashish (13 September 2022). "1st Evidence Of Russia-Operated Iranian Suicide Drone Emerges in Ukraine; Kiev Claims Downing Shahed-136 UAV". Latest Asian, Middle-East, EurAsian, Indian News. Archived from the original on 19 September 2022. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  23. ^ "Russia's Use of Iranian Kamikaze Drones Creates New Dangers for Ukrainian Troops". The Wall Street Journal. 17 September 2022. Archived from the original on 17 October 2022. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  24. ^ @Nikolai11449196 (25 September 2022). "More Shahed 136 drone attacks in Odessa. These drones seem to easily get through air defence" (Tweet). Retrieved 25 September 2022 – via Twitter.
  25. ^ @ARminhTran (25 September 2022). "伊朗Shahed-136 在 袭击敖德萨的一座建筑物" (Tweet) (in Chinese). Retrieved 25 September 2022 – via Twitter.
  26. ^ Ljunggren, David (23 September 2022). "Ukraine to slash ties with Iran over 'evil' drones supply to Russia". Reuters. Archived from the original on 24 September 2022. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  27. ^ "Shahed 136 drones used to strike military base inside Ukraine: WSJ". Al Mayadeen. 6 October 2022.
  28. ^ "Рыбарь". Archived from the original on 17 October 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  29. ^ "Ukrainian soldiers tell how they deal with Iranian kamikaze drones used by Russia". Yahoo. 7 October 2022. Archived from the original on 7 October 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  30. ^ "The Russian Armed Forces attacked the military base of the 55th artillery brigade in Zaporozhye, using a Shahed-136 UAV". Rambler. 8 October 2022.
  31. ^ "For the First Time Ukrainian Air Force Uses MiG-29 Fighters to Eliminate Drones Against Shahed-136". Defense Express. Kyiv. Archived from the original on 17 October 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  32. ^ Agencies and TOI staff. "Zelensky: Russia used Iran-made drones, missiles in deadly strikes on several cities". www.timesofisrael.com. Archived from the original on 10 October 2022. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  33. ^ "ДБР з'ясовує причини падіння військового літака на Вінниччині під час знищення ворожих безпілотників (ВІДЕО) - Державне бюро розслідувань". dbr.gov.ua. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  34. ^ Thomas Newdick (13 October 2022). "Ukraine Claims MiG-29 Pilot Downed Five Drones Before Ejecting". The Drive. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  35. ^ ""Suicide drones" attack Kyiv, other Ukrainian cities". CBS. 17 October 2022. Archived from the original on 17 October 2022. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  36. ^ "Drones hit Kyiv as Russia aims to destroy Ukraine power grid before winter, other Ukrainian cities". MSN. 17 October 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  37. ^ "Energy facilities in Ukraine's north, center damaged by Russian strikes - Ukrenergo". Ukrinform. 17 October 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  38. ^ "Russia-Ukraine war latest: Stop shooting down kamikaze drones, Kyiv civilians told". MSN. 17 October 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  39. ^ "VIDEO: Moment when Shahed-136 drone hits terrorists bases". Mehr News Agency. 2 October 2022. Archived from the original on 17 October 2022. Retrieved 5 October 2022.

External link

Media related to Shahed 136 at Wikimedia Commons

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