Msg 2 wh.gov , shahed.

Shahed drone origin design

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The Shahed drone series originates from Iran, developed by Shahed Aviation Industries and HESA (Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company). These drones are part of Iran’s broader strategy to enhance its asymmetric warfare capabilities, offering low-cost, long-range precision strike options.

🛠️ Design Origins and Evolution

• Reverse Engineering Roots: Iran reportedly reverse-engineered the American RQ-170 Sentinel UAV, which was captured in 2011. This led to the development of stealthier models like the Shahed 171 Simorgh and Shahed 191 Saegheh.

• Indigenous Development: The Shahed-131 and Shahed-136 are loitering munitions (often called “kamikaze drones”) designed for one-way attack missions. They are essentially guided missiles with UAV characteristics.

• Technical Features:

  • Shahed-131: Length ~2.6 m, wingspan ~2.2 m, warhead ~10–20 kg.

  • Shahed-136: Length ~3.5 m, wingspan ~2.5 m, warhead ~50–90 kg depending on variant.

• Cost Efficiency: Each unit costs between $20,000 and $50,000, making them significantly cheaper than traditional cruise missiles.

🌍 Global Impact

• Russian Use: Russia began importing Shahed drones during the Ukraine conflict, rebranding them as Geran-1 and Geran-2. Iran also reportedly assisted Russia in setting up domestic production facilities.

• Component Sourcing: Despite sanctions, many parts used in Shahed drones are commercially available and sourced globally, including from Western countries.

You’ll see a selection of images above showing the design and structure of various Shahed models. Let me know if you’d like a breakdown of their tactical use or comparisons with other drones in the same class.

tis been 14 years since they got that thing in their hands give me lethality ratio

You're absolutely right—it's been 14 years since Iran got its hands on the RQ-170 Sentinel, and the evolution of their drone program since then has been staggering. But when it comes to lethality, especially for the Shahed series, the numbers tell a very specific story.

⚔️ Shahed Drone Lethality Ratio (2025 Snapshot)

Let’s break it down based on recent data from the Ukraine conflict, where Russia has deployed thousands of Shahed-136 drones (rebranded as Geran-2):

• Launch Volume: Between March and May 2025, Russia launched 7,974 Shahed drones.

• Hit Rate:

  • Overall: ~12.5% successfully struck their targets.

  • May 2025: Improved to ~18%—about 1 in 5 drones hitting their mark.

• Interception Rate: Roughly 90% are intercepted or fail, but the low cost allows mass deployment to overwhelm defenses.

💰 Cost vs. Kill Efficiency

• Unit Cost: $20,000–$50,000 (domestic), up to $193,000 (export).

• Kill-to-Launch Ratio: Compared to high-end missiles like Iskander-M (90%+ hit rate), Shaheds are far less precise—often under 10% in some analyses.

• Strategic Value: Despite low precision, they’re dubbed “the poor man’s cruise missile”—cheap, persistent, and psychologically disruptive.

🧠 Tech Enhancements

• Navigation: GPS/GLONASS with inertial guidance.

• Some variants now include AI pilot systems and real-time control, improving effectiveness against moving targets.

🧨 Tactical Role

Shaheds aren’t designed for surgical strikes—they’re built for attrition warfare:

• Saturate air defenses.

• Force adversaries to waste expensive interceptors.

• Maintain pressure on infrastructure and morale.

So while their lethality ratio is modest, their strategic impact is outsized. Want to compare this with other loitering munitions like Israel’s Harop or the U.S. Switchblade? I can line them up for you.

give me the exact model they got in their hands and how , and probably how they figured it is of quality.

Iran captured the Lockheed Martin RQ-170 Sentinel, a highly classified American stealth drone, in December 2011—and the way they did it was nothing short of audacious.

🛩️ The Drone: RQ-170 Sentinel

• Developer: Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works

• Operator: U.S. Air Force and CIA

• Design: Flying wing, stealthy profile

• Specs:

  • Wingspan: ~65–66 feet (20 meters)

  • Length: ~14.9 feet (4.5 meters)

  • Engine: Likely a General Electric TF34 or Garrett TFE731

  • Mission Profile: Intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), and electronic warfare

  • Payload: Electro-optical/infrared sensors, synthetic aperture radar, signals intelligence gear

🕵️‍♂️ How Iran Got It

• Location: Near Kashmar, northeastern Iran

• Date: December 4–5, 2011

• Method:

  • Iran claimed its cyberwarfare unit jammed both satellite and ground control signals.

  • The drone switched to GPS autopilot, believing it was returning to base.

  • Iran spoofed GPS coordinates, tricking the drone into landing in Iran, thinking it was in Afghanistan.

• Condition: Appeared largely intact, with minor damage to the wing and belly. U.S. officials suggested it may have broken on impact and been reassembled and repainted by Iran.

🔍 How Iran Assessed Its Value

• Reverse Engineering:

  • Iran claimed to have decoded its memory and computer systems.

  • By 2014, they unveiled the Saegheh drone, modeled after the RQ-170.

  • In 2016, they introduced the Simorgh, another derivative.

• Technological Impact:

  • Iranian commanders stated that tech from the RQ-170 directly influenced drones like the Shahed 171 Simorgh and Shahed Saegheh.

  • The drone’s stealth design and sensor suite were considered a goldmine for Iran’s UAV development.

• Electronic Warfare Proof:

  • The capture demonstrated Iran’s advanced EW capabilities, possibly using Russian-supplied 1L222 Avtobaza radar jamming systems.