The U.S. Air Force is seeking exact replicas of the Iranian-designed Shahed-136 drone to test new counter-drone systems.
According to a request for information posted last week, the service plans to acquire 16 replicas, with an option for 20 more. The drones must match the Shahed’s form, size, propeller placement, and payload capacity of 70 to 100 pounds.
“This acquisition aims to leverage drones representative of the Shahed-136, which is currently used by adversarial countries and is being encountered in multiple areas of operation,” the document states.
The Shahed-136, widely used by Russia under the name Geran-2, has become central to Moscow’s campaign in Ukraine. Each costs an estimated $30,000 to $40,000, far cheaper than the missiles typically used to intercept them.
Russia began licensed production of the Shahed in 2023 under a $1.75 billion deal with Iran. Manufacturing takes place at the Alabuga Special Economic Zone in Tatarstan and another facility in Izhevsk. Ukraine says Russia aims to produce 79,000 Shahed-type drones in 2025.
Russia has ramped up drone production in recent months, enabling record levels of attacks. In July, Moscow launched 6,129 Shahed drones, up from 5,337 in June. On July 9 alone, 728 drones were fired.
The Institute for the Study of War has warned that, by November 2025, Russia could attempt to launch as many as 2,000 drones in a single night.
