Bayraktar TB2 vs Shahed-136
TB2 combines reusable observation with light precision attack, while Shahed-136 is an expendable one-way weapon. The most important distinction is not which has the longer advertised range, but whether the mission requires ongoing sensing and recovery or a terminal strike.
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Specifications side by side
| Specification | Bayraktar TB2 | Shahed 136 |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Baykar | HESA (Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company) |
| Country of origin | Turkey | Iran |
| Mission role | Reconnaissance / Light Attack | One-Way Attack / Loitering Munition / Strategic Infrastructure Strike |
| Year introduced | 2014 | 2021 |
| Length | 6.5 m | 3.5 m |
| Wingspan | 12 m | 2.5 m |
| Height | 2.2 m | 0.6 m |
| Maximum speed | 110 KTAS / about 204 km/h (current baseline manufacturer figure) | 185 km/h |
| Published range | Communications and mission dependent; LOS/BLOS configuration varies | 2,500 km |
| Endurance | 18+ hours listed; 27 h 3 min record (manufacturer) | 10+ hours |
| Service ceiling | 20,000 ft / about 6,100 m (baseline); turbo test records differ | 4,000 m |
| Payload | 150 kg (current baseline manufacturer figure) | 40-50 kg warhead |
| Weight | 700 kg MTOW (current baseline manufacturer figure) | 200 kg |
| Armament | MAM-L, MAM-C smart munitions, LUMTAS | 40-50 kg HE warhead (integral); some variants carry thermobaric or shaped-charge warheads |
Figures below come from the linked DroneStrike profiles and retain their configuration qualifiers. Maximum speed, range, endurance and payload are separate published figures, not a single achievable mission configuration. Range is not necessarily combat radius or datalink reach. Missing information is not zero, and a larger figure does not establish combat effectiveness.
The comparison that matters
A TB2 sortie can involve observation, target identification and return to base. A Shahed-type attack expends the aircraft, and its guidance and terminal configuration must be identified separately. Procurement headlines cannot support a like-for-like price comparison without knowing what each contract includes.
Understanding Bayraktar TB2
TB2 combines reusable reconnaissance with light precision attack. Its relatively small weapons and sensor allowance places it in a different class from heavy armed UAVs even when both are described as combat drones.
Keep baseline TB2 data separate from TB2T-AI test records, record-setting flights and customer-specific communications configurations.
Understanding Shahed-136
Shahed-136 is a propeller-driven one-way attack aircraft. It delivers an expendable strike effect rather than returning from a sensor-and-weapons sortie like an armed reconnaissance UAV.
Separate reported range, actual demonstrated routes and warhead variants; common usage of loitering terminology does not prove every version has the same terminal seeker.
How to read the specification table
The table compares the named Bayraktar TB2 and Shahed-136 catalog records, not an artificial combination of every advertised upgrade. Values are reproduced with their existing units and qualifications. Where figures describe different missions or payload types, treat them as context rather than calculating an unsupported performance advantage.
A published maximum is not necessarily achievable alongside every other maximum. Endurance may change with equipment, flight or sea conditions and transit requirements; a range figure may describe a different constraint from datalink reach. Unknown specifications remain unknown. For development programs and limited-disclosure systems, an intended capability must stay distinct from a completed trial or operational service.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main difference between Bayraktar TB2 and Shahed-136?
TB2 combines reusable observation with light precision attack, while Shahed-136 is an expendable one-way weapon. The most important distinction is not which has the longer advertised range, but whether the mission requires ongoing sensing and recovery or a terminal strike.
Can the headline specifications establish a winner?
No. The mission, actual configuration, supported force and quality of evidence determine what the figures mean. Maximum speed, endurance and payload alone do not establish combat effectiveness, survivability or equal intelligence collection.
Where can I verify the versions and figures used here?
Follow the Bayraktar TB2 and Shahed-136 profile links for full descriptions, timelines and any listed source references. This guide preserves the catalog's uncertainty labels rather than presenting unpublished or weakly sourced figures as independently verified facts.
Sources and further reading
- Bayraktar TB2: full catalog profile, timeline and source notes
- Shahed-136: full catalog profile, timeline and source notes
Specifications are drawn from the linked catalog profiles. Source dates and aircraft configurations may differ; see the individual profiles for their timelines and qualifications.