Shahed-136 vs Wing Loong II
Shahed-136 is a one-way weapon; Wing Loong II is a reusable armed reconnaissance platform carrying sensors and separate weapons. Their different mission cycles are more important than a shared association with air attack or a headline comparison of acquisition cost.
Open these drones in the interactive compare tool
Specifications side by side
| Specification | Shahed 136 | Wing Loong II |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | HESA (Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company) | AVIC/Chengdu |
| Country of origin | Iran | China |
| Mission role | One-Way Attack / Loitering Munition / Strategic Infrastructure Strike | Reconnaissance / Strike |
| Year introduced | 2021 | 2017 |
| Length | 3.5 m | About 11 m (reported) |
| Wingspan | 2.5 m | About 20.5 m (reported) |
| Height | 0.6 m | 4.1 m |
| Maximum speed | 185 km/h | Up to 370 km/h (reported) |
| Published range | 2,500 km | Mission and communications configuration dependent |
| Endurance | 10+ hours | Up to 32 hours (reported; load-dependent) |
| Service ceiling | 4,000 m | 9,000 m |
| Payload | 40-50 kg warhead | About 480 kg external weapons capacity (reported) |
| Weight | 200 kg | About 4,200 kg MTOW (reported) |
| Armament | 40-50 kg HE warhead (integral); some variants carry thermobaric or shaped-charge warheads | BA-7 ATM, FT-9 50kg bomb, LS-6 GPS guided |
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 returning ISR aircraft can gather information and support multiple tasking decisions; an expendable strike airframe has a different role and support model. Compare actual guidance, weapons and mission configuration, and avoid treating an air-vehicle price as the cost of a complete operational system.
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 Wing Loong II
Wing Loong II is a larger armed reconnaissance development than Wing Loong I. Payload options and integration with customer forces are more useful comparison points than treating all Wing Loong aircraft as one type.
Published maximum payload is not a standard combat load, and an export display does not prove that every advertised weapon is fielded by every customer.
How to read the specification table
The table compares the named Shahed-136 and Wing Loong II 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 Wing Loong II?
Shahed-136 is a one-way weapon; Wing Loong II is a reusable armed reconnaissance platform carrying sensors and separate weapons. Their different mission cycles are more important than a shared association with air attack or a headline comparison of acquisition cost.
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 Wing Loong II 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
- Wing Loong II: 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.