HESA Shahed 136
The HESA Shahed 136 (Persian: شاهد ۱۳۶, literally "Witness 136"), also known by its Russian designation Geran-2 (Russian: Герань-2, literally "Geranium-2"), is an Iranian-designed loitering munition, also referred to as a kamikaze drone or suicide drone, in the form of an autonomous pusher-propelled drone. It is designed and manufactured by the Iranian state-owned corporation HESA in association with Shahed Aviation Industries.
| Shahed 136 | |
|---|---|
A Shahed 136 at an exhibition | |
| Type | Loitering munition |
| Place of origin | Iran |
| Service history | |
| Used by | Iran Russia (as Geran-2) |
| Wars |
|
| Production history | |
| Designer | Shahed Aviation Industries |
| Manufacturer | Shahed Aviation Industries |
| Unit cost | $193,000 (export; various estimates for domestic production cost range from $10,000 to €50,000) |
| No. built | Unknown |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 200 kg (440 lb) |
| Length | 3.5 m (11 ft) |
| Wingspan | 2.5 m (8.2 ft) |
| Warhead weight | 50 kilograms (110 lb) |
| Engine | MD-550 piston engine |
Operational range | 2,500 km (1,600 mi) |
| Maximum speed | Around 185 km/h (115 mph) |
Guidance system | GNSS, INS |
Launch platform | Rocket-assisted take-off |
The munition is designed to attack ground targets from a distance. The drone is typically fired in multiples from a launch rack. The first public footage of the drone was released in December 2021. Russia has made much use of the Geran-2 in its invasion of Ukraine, especially in strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure.