// UNMANNED SYSTEMS AND NEXT-GEN WARFARE TERM
Shahed-136
The Shahed-136 is an Iranian-made 'kamikaze' drone, designed to fly to a target and explode upon impact. It has been widely used by Russia in the conflict against Ukraine, where it is often referred to by its Russian designation, Geran-2.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
The Shahed-136, also designated Geran-2 by Russia, is an Iranian-developed delta-wing loitering munition and one-way attack (OWA) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). This autonomous weapon system is designed for long-range precision strikes against fixed infrastructure, becoming a key asset in asymmetric warfare, notably in the Russo-Ukrainian War.
BACKGROUND
The HESA Shahed 136, also known by its Russian designation Geran-2, is an Iranian-designed one-way attack drone, 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.
READ MORE ON WIKIPEDIASYNONYMS & ALIASES
- Geran-2
- kamikaze drone
- suicide drone
- loitering munition
- one-way attack drone
- OWA UAV
USAGE NOTE
The term is most often cited in discussions about the proliferation of low-cost, attritable unmanned systems and their use against critical infrastructure in modern conflicts.
DEVELOPERS
Organizations developing technology related to Shahed-136.
Shahed Aviation Industries Research Center (SAIRC)
An Iranian company affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force, credited with the original design and development of the Shahed series of unmanned aerial vehicles, including the Shahed-136.
A state-owned Iranian aircraft manufacturing company responsible for the mass production of the Shahed-136 drones. HESA operates under the Iran Aviation Industries Organization (IAIO).
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)
A branch of the Iranian Armed Forces that is the primary operator and a key entity driving the research, development, and operational requirements for Iran's drone programs, including the Shahed-136.
Alabuga Special Economic Zone Facility
A manufacturing facility located in Russia's Alabuga Special Economic Zone in Tatarstan, established to produce a Russian version of the Shahed-136, locally designated as the Geran-2 (Герань-2).
Oje Parvaz Mado Nafar Company (Mado Company)
An Iranian company, sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury, that has been instrumental in procuring and reverse-engineering foreign engines for Iran's UAV programs, including the Shahed-136. It was also involved in the transfer of the drones to Russia.
Qods Aviation Industry Company
A major Iranian state-owned aerospace company that develops and manufactures a wide range of UAVs. While not the primary developer of the Shahed-136, it is a key pillar of Iran's overall drone development and manufacturing ecosystem.
Iran's Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL)
The Iranian government ministry that oversees the country's entire military-industrial complex, including the organizations responsible for drone research, development, and production like IAIO and HESA.