Shahed-136 vs Shahed-131
Shahed-136 and Shahed-131 are different-size members of the Iranian one-way attack family. Family resemblance does not make dimensions, payload class and reported range interchangeable. The smaller Shahed-131 needs its own model-specific evidence.
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Specifications side by side
| Specification | Shahed 136 | Shahed-131 |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | HESA (Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company) | Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industries |
| Country of origin | Iran | Iran |
| Mission role | One-Way Attack / Loitering Munition / Strategic Infrastructure Strike | Long-Range Strike |
| Year introduced | 2021 | 2021 |
| Length | 3.5 m | 2.6 m (reported) |
| Wingspan | 2.5 m | 2.2 m (reported) |
| Height | 0.6 m | Not publicly disclosed |
| Maximum speed | 185 km/h | 180 km/h (reported) |
| Published range | 2,500 km | 700–1,000 km (reported) |
| Endurance | 10+ hours | Not publicly disclosed |
| Service ceiling | 4,000 m | Not publicly disclosed |
| Payload | 40-50 kg warhead | 10–20 kg (reported) |
| Weight | 200 kg | 135 kg (reported) |
| Armament | 40-50 kg HE warhead (integral); some variants carry thermobaric or shaped-charge warheads | Integral explosive warhead |
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 fragment identification or silhouette may support a family attribution without establishing every specification. Compare source-labelled figures and the actual model rather than treating any propeller-driven delta-wing attack drone as a Shahed-136 or copying its maximum reported range.
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 Shahed-131
Shahed-131 is a smaller member of the Iranian one-way attack family. Airframe size, payload class and reported performance need their own evidence rather than being copied from the more widely discussed Shahed-136.
Identification from fragments or a family resemblance is not a substitute for a verified model-specific specification.
How to read the specification table
The table compares the named Shahed-136 and Shahed-131 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 Shahed-131?
Shahed-136 and Shahed-131 are different-size members of the Iranian one-way attack family. Family resemblance does not make dimensions, payload class and reported range interchangeable. The smaller Shahed-131 needs its own model-specific evidence.
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 Shahed-131 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
- Shahed-131: 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.