Shahed 131

Shahed 131
Orthographic projection of a Shahed-131/Geran-1
TypeLoitering munition
Place of origin Iran
Service history
Used by Iran
 Russia (as Geran-1)
Production history
DesignerShahed Aviation Industries
Specifications
Mass135 kg (298 lb)
Wingspan2.2 m (7.2 ft)
Warhead weight15 kilograms (33 lb)
Operational
range
900 km (559 mi)
Guidance
system
GNSS, INS

The Shahed 131 (Persian: شاهد ۱۳۶, literally "Witness 131"), or Geran-1 (Russian: Герань-1, literally "Geranium-1") in Russian service, is an Iranian-made exploding drone which came to prominence in October 2022 during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[1][2][3] It is powered by a Wankel engine model Shahed-783/788.[4]

Design

Photograph and sketch of a Shahed-131 recovered in the Middle East

The Shahed-131 is powered by the Serat-1 Wankel engine, which is a copy of the Beijing Micropilot UAV Control System Ltd MDR-208 Wankel engine.[5][6] An engine of this type was used for the drone in the 2019 Aramco attack in Abqaiq,[6] which was referred to the UN Secretariat as part of the Resolution 2231 2020 investigations.

The Shahed-131 flight control unit was found to be able to connect with Iridium satellites, which in theory allows the flight path to be altered mid flight.[7][8] The flight controller has a backup inertial navigation system by MEMS gyroscope. Its primary instructions are derived from a commercial-grade GPS unit.[8]

Designs for the Kentron ARD-10 loitering drone were sold to Iran Aviation Industries Organization in 2004/5 and used by Shahed Aviation Industries to develop the Shahed 131 and Shahed 136 drones, according to Air Forces Monthly magazine.[9] However a Royal United Services Institute article states the origins of the Shahed 131 are obscure.[10]

The Shahed 131 is visually distinguished by having vertical stabilisers that extend only upwards from the ends of the wings, while on the larger Shahed 136 they extend both up and down.[11] It has a 15 kilograms (33 lb) warhead and has a range of 900 kilometres (559 mi).[3][10]

Operational history

See also: Abqaiq–Khurais attack

It has been alleged the drone was first seen in the Arabian Peninsula when it was used to attack Saudi targets by the Houthi rebels.[1] However The Washington Post reported that other types of drone were used in that attack.[12]

See also: 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine and Iran and the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine

It was used in the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine,[4] under a Russian name Geran-1.[13] A simplified version is also called Geran-3 where the diesel engine has been replaced with a DLE-60 twin gasoline engine.[14]

Operators

Non-state actors

See also

  • HESA Shahed 136 – (Iran)
  • IAI Harpy – (Israel)

References

  1. ^ a b Scollon, Michael. "Iranian Missiles Threaten To Boost Russia's Deadly Air Campaign In Ukraine". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty.
  2. ^ Kossov, Igor (October 24, 2022). "How Russia uses Iranian drones to try to overwhelm Ukraine's air defense". The Kyiv Independent.
  3. ^ a b Panasovskyi, Maksim. "The AFU captured a kamikaze drone Shahed-131 - a smaller version of Shahed-136, weighing 135 kg, warhead weighing 15 kg and a launch range of 900 km". gagadget.com.
  4. ^ a b "Russians began to use Shahed-131 kamikaze drones". mil.in.ua. 13 October 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  5. ^ "Takeaways from Iranian National Aerospace Exhibition 2014". www.uskowioniran.com. 25 November 2014. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  6. ^ a b Mehdi H. [@mhmiranusa] (19 December 2019). "New pictures by @Reuters from US report to @UN Security Council on the UAV used for Aramco attack in Abqaiq. Shows its engine & vertical gyro compared to the ones from Iranian Shahed-123 UAV and a far picture of that delta wing UAV in an IRGC exhibition. https://t.co/kJrMtb7goz" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 20 January 2022. Retrieved 2 December 2022 – via Twitter.
  7. ^ "An Advanced Radio Communication Device on American Processors Found in the Shahed-136". Defense Express. Kyiv. 6 October 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  8. ^ a b "Не тільки Shahed-136, з'явилось детальне дослідження ще одного іранського дрона камікадзе, який використовує РФ" [Not only Shahed-136, a detailed study of another Iranian kamikaze drone used by the Russian Federation has appeared]. Defense Express (in Ukrainian). Kyiv. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  9. ^ "South African heritage". Air Forces Monthly. Key Publishing Ltd. December 2022. p. 23.
  10. ^ a b Rubin, Uzi (13 January 2023). "Russia's Iranian-Made UAVs: A Technical Profile". Royal United Services Institute. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  11. ^ Binnie, Jeremy (29 September 2022). "Ukraine conflict: Details of Iranian attack UAV released". Janes. IHS. Archived from the original on 29 September 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  12. ^ Harris, Shane; Lamothe, Dan; Horton, Alex; DeYoung, Karen (20 October 2022). "U.S. has viewed wreckage of kamikaze drones Russia used in Ukraine". Washington Post. Retrieved 25 October 2022. The Houthis claimed to have used Samad-3 drones to attack a refinery in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, last spring, and launched Samad-1 drones at Saudi Aramco facilities in other parts of the country. Those drones are distinct from the weapons used by Russia in Ukraine.
  13. ^ "A "Younger" Version Geran-1 (Shahed-131) Kamikaze Drone Spotted After Night Attack From Crimea | Defense Express". en.defence-ua.com. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  14. ^ "First Deployment of Italmas or Geran-3 Drones in Ukraine Took Place Today, russians Say | Defense Express". en.defence-ua.com. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
  15. ^ "How Russia's Newest Drone Warhead Can Ruthlessly Destroy Energy Infrastructure in Ukraine". 24 February 2023.
  16. ^ "Yemeni Houthis Display Iranian Drones and Loitering Missiles - Defense Update". 27 September 2022.
  17. ^ Ari, Lior Ben (2024-05-15). "Terrorists in Iraq claim to launch Shahad 131 UAV toward Israel". Ynetnews. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  18. ^ "Drone attack on Turkish bases in Iraq with Murad-6 drone! (Video) - Islamic World News". 2022-07-27. Retrieved 2023-09-06.
  19. ^ "Ababil Brigades Pro-Iran Iraqi Militias showcase a "Murad-6" delta wing drone". The Cyber Shafarat - Treadstone 71. 2022-07-27. Retrieved 2023-09-06.
  20. ^ "Pro-Iran Iraqi Militia Posts Video Showing Preparations For Drone Attack On Turkish Forces". MEMRI. Retrieved 2023-09-06.

Media related to Shahed 131 at Wikimedia Commons