British military bases in Cyprus were placed on heightened alert just before midnight on Sunday, 1 March 2026, following an Iranian drone strike on the Akrotiri base earlier that morning.
What Is the Shahed-136?
The HESA Shahed-136 is an Iranian loitering munition — commonly described as a kamikaze drone — designed for long-range strikes against ground targets. Unlike conventional drones, it functions as a guided weapon: it carries its own warhead and is destroyed upon impact with its target.
The Shahed-136 has drawn significant attention due to the large number deployed and the scale of damage inflicted, particularly in Ukraine, where Russian forces have used both the Shahed-131 (designated Geran-1) and Shahed-136 (Geran-2), alongside the Mohajer-6 reconnaissance-strike UAV. There has been some confusion over naming — notably, the Mohajer-6 was initially misreported as the Geran-1.
Experts continue to debate its precise classification: some refer to it as a ‘mini’ cruise missile, though it lacks a rocket engine and instead uses a piston-powered propeller. Others categorise it more accurately as a loitering munition or kamikaze drone.
Development and Cost
Developed by Iran’s Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company (HESA), the Shahed-136 is a propeller-driven, autonomous loitering munition. Its Persian name translates to ‘Witness 136’. A key advantage is its low cost — estimated between $20,000 and $60,000 per unit — making it a relatively inexpensive yet effective weapon system.
It first appeared publicly in December 2021 via a leaked video and was later confirmed to have entered active service with the Iranian armed forces. It has since seen combat use in Yemen and, according to multiple reports, has been deployed by Russia during its invasion of Ukraine.
The drone is launched from a ramp, often in salvos of up to five units at once. Its primary tactical purpose is to overwhelm and exhaust air defence systems — evading detection while saturating ground targets.
Design and Technical Specifications
The Shahed-136 features a flying-wing design with vertical tip fences at the wingtips. It measures approximately 2.5 metres in length and has a wingspan of about 3.5 metres. Its warhead — weighing roughly 200 kilograms — is housed in the nose, along with optical guidance systems for precision targeting.
A rear-mounted piston engine powers a two-bladed pusher propeller. For launch, it uses a solid-fuel rocket booster. Its cruising speed is around 185 km/h.