Iran HESA (Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company)
Shahed-131
A smaller, shorter-range predecessor to the Shahed-136 delta-wing loitering munition, also mass-produced for one-way attack strikes. Russian-built copies, designated Geran-1, have supplemented the larger Geran-2 in strikes on Ukraine, though production and cost figures remain disputed public estimates.
In service since 2019 · 3 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
180
km/h
900
km range
4,000
m ceiling
Pricing: Widely cited public estimate; disputed and unverified
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
Sanctioned origin
Under multilateral sanctions; acquisition carries severe legal/financial exposure for most buyers.
Channel: State channel
Fielded & proven
Limited · 3 operators
In service since 2019. Status: active.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from. Why so few systems publish one →
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Max speed Maximum level speed. For aircraft this is at optimal altitude; for ground vehicles, top road speed. Higher means faster response and better kinematic performance. | 180 km/h |
|---|---|
| Cruise speed Sustained economical speed. Determines transit time to station. | 150 km/h |
| Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence. | 900 km |
| Service ceiling Maximum operating altitude. Higher gives energy advantage and sensor horizon. | 4,000 m |
| Endurance Time on station. Critical for UAVs and patrol platforms, higher means longer persistent coverage. | 6 h |
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Warhead Warhead mass. Heavier generally means larger effect radius, at the cost of range. | 15 kg |
|---|
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 2.5 m |
|---|---|
| Wingspan Wingtip-to-wingtip span. | 2 m |
| Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor. | 135 kg |
| Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity. | 0 |
Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
| Engine Powerplant model and type. | Piston engine |
|---|---|
| Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet… | Piston, pusher propeller |
Sensors & avionics
Radar, sensor suite and datalinks.
| Sensors IRST, EO/IR turrets, laser designators, sniper pods, thermal sights. | Electro-optical seeker (some variants) |
|---|---|
| Datalink Network connectivity: Link 16, MADL, national datalinks. Enables cooperative engagement. | GPS/GLONASS satellite navigation |
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 3 |
|---|
Specifications compiled from public HESA (Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company) and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
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Shahed-131 vs
Frequently asked questions
What is the top speed of the HESA (Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company) Shahed-131? +
The HESA (Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company) Shahed-131 has a maximum speed of 180 km/h.
What is the range of the HESA (Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company) Shahed-131? +
The HESA (Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company) Shahed-131 has a maximum range of 900 km.
How much does the HESA (Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company) Shahed-131 weigh? +
The HESA (Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company) Shahed-131 has a combat weight of 135 kg.
How many crew does the HESA (Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company) Shahed-131 require? +
The HESA (Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company) Shahed-131 requires a crew of 0.
What engine does the HESA (Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company) Shahed-131 use? +
The HESA (Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company) Shahed-131 is powered by the Piston engine.
What is the HESA (Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company) Shahed-131 used for? +
The HESA (Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company) Shahed-131 is a uav / drone typically used for deep strike.
How many countries operate the HESA (Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company) Shahed-131? +
The HESA (Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company) Shahed-131 is operated by 3 countries.
How much does the HESA (Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company) Shahed-131 cost? +
HESA (Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company) Shahed-131: Widely cited public estimate; disputed and unverified. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.
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