Shahed-136 vs Geran-2
Shahed-136 and Geran-2 are closely connected through design lineage and Russian designation, but the labels should not imply that every production batch is identical. Local production and reported changes make configuration and date essential to any comparison.
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Specifications side by side
| Specification | Shahed 136 | Geran-2 |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | HESA (Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company) | Russian defense industry (Alabuga / IRGC Shahed derivative) |
| Country of origin | Iran | Russia |
| Mission role | One-Way Attack / Loitering Munition / Strategic Infrastructure Strike | Long-Range Infrastructure Strike / Area Saturation Attack |
| Year introduced | 2021 | 2023 |
| Length | 3.5 m | 3.5 m |
| Wingspan | 2.5 m | 2.5 m |
| Height | 0.6 m | 0.5 m |
| Maximum speed | 185 km/h | 185 km/h |
| Published range | 2,500 km | 2,500 km |
| Endurance | 10+ hours | 5 hr |
| Service ceiling | 4,000 m | 4,000 m |
| Payload | 40-50 kg warhead | 40 kg (warhead) |
| Weight | 200 kg | 200 kg |
| Armament | 40-50 kg HE warhead (integral); some variants carry thermobaric or shaped-charge warheads | 40 kg unitary fragmentation/blast warhead; one-way attack profile; GPS/INS navigation with possible terrain-following |
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
Ask which recovered example, production period or reported modification a specification concerns. Navigation equipment, warhead reports and locally sourced components may vary. A verified difference in one sample should not be presented as a universal distinction between every Shahed-136 and every Geran-2.
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.
Understanding Geran-2
Geran-2 is the Russian designation associated with Shahed-136-derived one-way attack systems. Lineage is important, but local production changes and later configurations mean the labels do not guarantee identical components.
Treat production batches, navigation changes and warhead reports as configuration-specific evidence, not a universal upgrade applied to every airframe.
How to read the specification table
The table compares the named Shahed-136 and Geran-2 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 Shahed-136 and Geran-2?
Shahed-136 and Geran-2 are closely connected through design lineage and Russian designation, but the labels should not imply that every production batch is identical. Local production and reported changes make configuration and date essential to any comparison.
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 Shahed-136 and Geran-2 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
- Shahed-136: full catalog profile, timeline and source notes
- Geran-2: 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.