The Shahed-238 is a jet-propelled one-way attack unmanned aerial vehicle designed and built in Iran as a faster development of the propeller-driven Shahed-136. It was first officially unveiled in 2023, and Iran has used it against targets in Israel and the Gulf states, while Russia has employed it widely in its campaign against Ukraine, where a locally built variant is known as the Geran-3. The airframe is about 3.5 metres long with a wingspan near 3 metres and a takeoff weight reported between 250 and 370 kilograms, carrying a warhead of about 50 kilograms, or up to 90 kilograms on some Russian versions. Reported speeds run from roughly 300 to 600 kilometres per hour depending on engine and variant, and it can be launched from a rail on a truck or from a stationary platform with a solid-fuel booster. Guidance differs by version, from inertial and satellite navigation to infrared, optical or radar-homing seekers. Specifications are reported inconsistently, so the figures above are approximate.
Facts
Weapon Class
Weapon Class (category)Unmanned Aerial Vehicle 1 Classification
Service Status Introduced Year Connections
Operated By
Source Shahed-238 (CSIS Missile Threat)
Used In
Source Shahed-238 (CSIS Missile Threat)
Sources
1. Shahed-238 (CSIS Missile Threat)
Introduction
First officially unveiled in 2023, Iran has used Shahed-238 UAVs against targets in Israel and Gulf states, and Russia has widely employed the Shahed-238 in its offensive campaign against Ukraine.
Introduction [weapon-class-category]
The Shahed-238 is a jet-propelled one-way attack unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) designed and built domestically by Iran.
Shahed-238 at a Glance
Status Operational
Operated By: Russian Armed Forces, Introduction [operated-by]
Russia has widely employed the Shahed-238 in its offensive campaign against Ukraine.
Used In: Russo-Ukrainian War, Introduction [operated-by]
Russia has widely employed the Shahed-238 in its offensive campaign against Ukraine.
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