In this edition: I take a look and analyze the latest drone being used by Russia against Ukraine: The Iranian Shahed 136 (Also called Geran 2 by the Russians):
As the Ukraine war has shown the force multiplier that loitering UAS systems are capable of, it has also shown that these systems are obtainable utilizing the open market with minimal difficulty, with some parts of the Shahed being obtained on Alibaba and Ebay.
Overview:
The Iranian Shahed 136 is the latest loitering munition being used by Russia against Ukraine. It quickly came to prominence after Russia ran out of its own locally made inventory of loitering munitions like the Zala Lancet ran out, and Russia needed to continue its attacks. Its concept of operations is that a location is designated to it via GPS, where it navigates and then performs a terminal maneuver into the target.
Specifications:
Range: 1800–2500km (1100–1540 miles).
Speed: 115mph+
Weight: 200kg/440lbs
Wingspan: 2.5m/8ft
Length: 3.5m/11ft
- Airframe
- The airframe for the Shahed 137 is a delta-wing Configuration:
- The Delta Wing Configuration is specifically optimized for fuel efficiency and optimized range.
Propulsion:
- The propulsion system is seen in photos clearly as an internal combustion motor, a 4 cylinder, gas powered engine that produces 37kW/50Hp at 7500 rpm:
- In fact you can purchase the engine online at the Chinese Drone link below:
- https://www.militarydrones.org.cn/md-550-engine-price-p00583p1.html
Launching of unit:
- Individual Shahed units launch from a cargo container via rocket motor to a designated altitude prior to their ICE engine taking over and navigating begins:
- Photos of the truck are below:
Payload/Gimbal Design
- Interestingly, this drone has been optimized for cost in that it has no Gimbal with optical/visual capabilities for ISR.
- This is supported by the photos of the UAS from above and below do not show any openings or aperture:
- While the front fuselage of the unit may be just a cover for a small aperture mm-wave radar, that is not likely as the cost of radars units would be more than an optical camera on the open market.
- Maneuvering:
- The Shahed 136 utilizes its rear ailerons to maneuver, as shown in this photo on the upper left:
- Furthermore, the unit calculates it airspeed with long and short pitot tubes sticking out of the leading edge of the wing in this closup:
- Maneuvering:Original Photo for reference:
- So how does the Shahed navigate then?
Navigation:
- The Unit navigates utilizing 4 GPS Pucks on the starboard wing:
- Closeup of GPS Pucks from image below:
- The best detail of the GPS antenna can be seen in the photo below on the right of the photograph detailing the individual GPS “Puck”:
CONOPS:
The conops of the unit are that it is launched in large groups at a single target programmed into their GPS and navigation units. The UAS systems then navigate to the target and then perform their terminal dive:
Summary:
As the Ukraine war has dragged on with no clear ending, the Iranian Shahed 136 UAS loitering munition has quickly came to prominence due to Russia ran out of its own locally loitering munitions like the Zala Lancet. The Zala Lancet, being quite the opposite of the Zala Lancet in terms of technological sophistication, shows how much of a force multiplier loitering munitions can be even when assembled with an emphasis of economy of cost.
Cheers!
