Shaed 136

The Shahed-136 is an Iranian-designed loitering munition (also called a kamikaze or suicide drone). It is built to strike ground targets in a one-way attack, combining long range, relatively low production cost, and the ability to be launched in swarms.

In Russian service, it is known as the Geran-2.

The Shahed-136 / Geran-2 family illustrates how simple, mass-produced long-range drones can change the economics of warfare:

• They force defenders to spend much more expensive missiles and resources to counter relatively cheap threats.

• Large-scale use allows continuous pressure on enemy infrastructure and air defenses.

• Ongoing iterations (better EW resistance, improved warheads, onboard processing, and networked employment) turn it from a crude one-way drone into part of a complex, layered strike and reconnaissance ecosystem.