Why is the World Afraid of Iran's Drones? The Story Behind the Power of Shahed-136

In the modern military world filled with sophisticated and expensive systems, the emergence of the Shahed-136 actually breaks many classic assumptions about technological superiority. This Iranian-made drone or drone has become a new symbol of modern military effectiveness: cheap, simple, and deadly. In a short time, the Shahed-136 has transformed from an unknown device into a favorite weapon in bloody conflicts around the world, from Ukraine to Israel.

The Shahed-136 is a kamikaze drone or suicide drone designed for a one-way, no-return mission. Once launched, it will hover in the air looking for a target until it finally dives and explodes with its warhead. Powered by a simple 2-stroke gasoline engine and a wooden propeller, this drone does look ordinary and has no landing gear, no futuristic aerodynamic design, and even no rudder. But that is precisely its strength: simple, cheap, and effective.

The price per unit is around 20,000 US dollars, much cheaper compared to Western drones such as the US MQ-9 Reaper which can cost tens of millions of dollars. This low budget allows mass production and use in a swarm attack strategy, aka a swarm attack that is difficult to counter.

The success of the Shahed-136 has led to two superpowers, Russia and China, racing to create copies. Russia calls its version the Geran-2 drone, which has been in use since the Ukrainian war escalated in 2022. Meanwhile, China has launched a variant called the Sunflower 200, with specifications that are almost identical to the Shahed-136.

This drone is not only a symbol of the new military alliance between Iran-Russia-China, but also reflects the paradigm shift of modern weapons: from high-tech to smart-cheap. Ukraine is not sitting idle. They are determined to make a domestic version of the Shahed-136 to balance the power of drones in the face of Russian attacks.

The Shahed-136 has been used in thousands of missions by the Russian military. The Ukrainian Armed Forces report shows that more than 4,600 units have been launched from 2022 to early 2024. This record was collected from drones that managed to reach Ukrainian territory. In one wave of attacks, Russia can launch up to 130 units at once as a strategy aimed at confusing Ukraine's air defense system.

Despite its simple design, its range is extraordinary: reaching 2,000 km, with a flight time of up to 12 hours. This drone can fly low at an altitude of 20-30 meters to avoid radar, but is also capable of soaring at an altitude of 5.2 km if necessary. Low-altitude attacks make it difficult to detect and difficult to shoot down manually. With a warhead of 20-40 kg, the Shahed-136 is capable of destroying critical infrastructure such as energy centers and military headquarters.

Despite its internationally sanctioned origins in Iran, the Shahed-136 uses components from a number of countries. Ukrainian investigations have revealed that the Russian version of the drone contains 55 US-made components as well as parts from China, Switzerland and Japan. Even its main engine is a derivative of the German-made Limbach L550E, which has been copied by Iranian and Chinese manufacturers.

Ironically, the adversary’s technology actually strengthens the drone. In a geopolitical context, it shows how the black market in electronic components and engineering creativity can overcome a technology embargo.

The Shahed-136 is known for its distinctive triangular delta wing design, which is said to resemble a large kite. Its face is devoid of antennas, no sophisticated cameras, and looks like a piece of winged aluminum pipe. However, this “cheap” appearance is what makes it superior: it is light, compact, difficult to detect by radar, and easy to manufacture.

Military analysts compare the Shahed-136 to the AK-47: not sophisticated, but highly effective. The philosophy is the same: it can be produced in many places, can be used by anyone, and is capable of killing.

The Shahed-136 has attacked major Ukrainian cities. And, in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, it is also used by Iranian-backed militias such as Hamas and Hezbollah. Attacks with the Shahed-136 spread fear not only because of the physical damage, but also the psychological impact: the drone can come at any time, without being detected in advance.

There are many videos of these drone attacks circulating on social media. One video from a Ukrainian helicopter shows a Shahed-136 flying low with a distinctive lawnmower sound, then being shot down with a machine gun. However, such incidents are very rare, in fact the majority of Shahed-136 attacks successfully hit their targets.

Although powerful, the Shahed-136 is not without its loopholes. Ukraine is now developing conventional defense systems such as manual anti-aircraft guns and light armed vehicles. With the help of weapons from Western countries such as the German Flakpanzer Gepard, the effectiveness of Iran's drones is starting to be challenged.

However, Iran and its allies have adapted quickly. More sophisticated versions with radar jamming capabilities and more stealthy body materials have emerged. In fact, its satellite navigation system is now based on Russia's GLONASS, making it independent of the Western GPS system.

The success story of the Shahed-136 is a tale of how efficiency triumphs over complexity. It is not as sophisticated as the Reaper or Predator, but that is precisely the point: it can be mass-produced, operated without expensive infrastructure, and still creates a strategic impact on the battlefield.

For Iran, the drone is a symbol of independence and ingenuity. For the world, it is a reminder that modern wars are not always won by the most expensive technology, but by the most efficient, deadly, and difficult to counter weapons. This is what makes the world afraid of Iran's drone. (LITBANG KOMPAS)