Shahed 136

The Shahed 136 is an Iranian-manufactured, delta-winged, low-cost 'kamikaze' or loitering munition drone. It has gained notoriety for its use in conflicts, particularly in Ukraine and, more recently, the Middle East. The drone's relatively inexpensive production cost, compared to advanced weaponry, allows for its deployment in large numbers, posing a challenge to sophisticated defense systems. Recent news highlights its deployment by Iran to intimidate and impose costs on regional allies of the US, with hundreds striking targets in Bahrain, Kuwait, the UAE, and across the Gulf. A notable recent event includes a Shahed 136 strike on an Amazon Web Services data center in the UAE, marking a potential first in targeting commercial data centers in warfare. Its effectiveness has also prompted the US to develop similar low-cost drone technology, demonstrating its growing significance in modern warfare.