MQ-9 Reaper vs Shahed-136
Reaper is a reusable armed surveillance aircraft; Shahed-136 is a one-way attack system. Comparing them as though both fly the same reconnaissance-and-return sortie obscures the central difference in mission, sensors, weapons delivery and how the aircraft is expended.
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Specifications side by side
| Specification | MQ-9 Reaper | Shahed 136 |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | General Atomics | HESA (Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company) |
| Country of origin | USA | Iran |
| Mission role | Attack / Reconnaissance | One-Way Attack / Loitering Munition / Strategic Infrastructure Strike |
| Year introduced | 2007 | 2021 |
| Length | 11 m | 3.5 m |
| Wingspan | 20 m | 2.5 m |
| Height | 3.8 m | 0.6 m |
| Maximum speed | 482 km/h | 185 km/h |
| Published range | 1,850 km | 2,500 km |
| Endurance | 27 hours | 10+ hours |
| Service ceiling | 15,240 m | 4,000 m |
| Payload | 1,746 kg | 40-50 kg warhead |
| Weight | 2,223 kg | 200 kg |
| Armament | AGM-114 Hellfire, GBU-12/38 JDAM, GBU-49 | 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
Reaper's payload can include sensors and separate cleared weapons; the Shahed's terminal strike expends the air vehicle. Their published range and endurance figures describe different mission concepts. Neither a low-cost claim nor maximum flight distance establishes equivalent intelligence or precision-strike capability.
Understanding MQ-9 Reaper
Reaper combines persistent surveillance with a substantial cleared weapons capacity. Its larger turboprop airframe supports a different sensor and strike workload from light tactical UAVs, one-way weapons and reconnaissance-only aircraft.
Separate MQ-9A figures from MQ-9B capabilities, and distinguish total payload allowance from a specific cleared weapons and sensor load.
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 MQ-9 Reaper 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 MQ-9 Reaper and Shahed-136?
Reaper is a reusable armed surveillance aircraft; Shahed-136 is a one-way attack system. Comparing them as though both fly the same reconnaissance-and-return sortie obscures the central difference in mission, sensors, weapons delivery and how the aircraft is expended.
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 MQ-9 Reaper 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
- MQ-9 Reaper: 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.