HESA Shahed 136

The HESA Shahed-136 is a one-way attack loitering munition developed in Iran. Unlike a conventional reconnaissance UAV, it crashes into its target at the end of the mission and detonates its warhead. Its delta-wing airframe and rear- mounted piston engine make it a relatively low-cost, long-range strike system.

The Shahed-136 is designed to follow a pre-planned route based on target coordinates. Satellite-aided navigation and inertial guidance allow the aircraft to travel over long distances toward the target area. Its primary purpose is not intelligence collection but one-way attacks against fixed or pre-designated targets.

The platform has been widely used by Russia as part of large-scale, multi-vehicle attack packages during the war against Ukraine. In Russian service and production, the Shahed-136 is generally known as the Geran-2. Its relatively low production cost, long range and ability to be launched in large numbers allow it to maintain persistent pressure on air-defence networks.

According to the Plarok database, the Shahed-136 has a maximum speed of 105 knots, a range of approximately 2,500 kilometres, an endurance of 12 hours and a service ceiling of 13,000 feet. Reported to carry a warhead of approximately 40 kilograms, the platform should be classified primarily as a coordinate-guided one-way attack munition rather than a sensor-equipped reconnaissance UAV.