Shahed-131
Smaller variant of the Shahed-136 one-way attack drone with reduced range and warhead, used alongside its larger sibling in mass saturation attacks.
System Overview
What It Is
The Shahed-131 is a smaller, shorter-range variant of the Shahed-136 one-way attack drone. It carries a reduced warhead and has approximately one-third the range of its larger counterpart but maintains the same basic design philosophy and production simplicity. Russia designates it the Geran-1.
How It Works
Like the Shahed-136, the Shahed-131 is rail-launched from a truck-mounted system and follows pre-programmed GPS waypoints to its target. Its smaller size gives it a marginally reduced radar cross-section. It flies at low altitude and dives into its target on arrival, detonating its warhead on impact.
Primary Capability
Medium-range one-way attack against tactical and infrastructure targets, complementing the larger Shahed-136 in swarm attacks.
Combat Record / Operational History
Deployed alongside the Shahed-136 in Russian attacks on Ukraine, designated Geran-1 by Russian forces. Used in mixed swarms to complicate air defense prioritization. Also used by Houthi forces in attacks against targets in the Red Sea region and Saudi Arabia. The combination of Shahed-131 and Shahed-136 in the same attack complicates defender response by presenting targets of varying size and range profiles.
Overview
The Shahed-131 is the smaller sibling of the Shahed-136, sharing the same delta-wing design philosophy but in a more compact form. Designated Geran-1 by Russian forces, it is deployed alongside the larger Shahed-136 in combined attacks to present defenders with mixed threat profiles. Its reduced size and cost make it an even more expendable asset in saturation operations.
Technical Details
The Shahed-131 has a wingspan of approximately 2.0 meters and a length of about 2.9 meters, making it noticeably smaller than the Shahed-136. It weighs around 135 kg at launch and carries a warhead estimated at 15-30 kg of high explosive. Its range of approximately 900 km is roughly one-third that of the Shahed-136, making it more suited to operational and tactical-depth targets. Like its larger counterpart, it uses inertial navigation with GPS guidance and is powered by a small piston engine.
Combat History
The Shahed-131 has been employed by Russia in Ukraine alongside the Shahed-136 beginning in late 2022. By mixing both variants in attack waves, Russian forces have sought to complicate air defense responses, as the two variants present slightly different radar and visual signatures. Houthi forces have also employed the Shahed-131 in attacks against targets in Saudi Arabia and the broader Red Sea theater. Exact production and launch numbers are harder to confirm than the Shahed-136, as wartime reporting often does not distinguish between the two variants.
Proliferation
The Shahed-131 has proliferated along the same channels as the Shahed-136, reaching Russian forces and Iranian proxy groups including the Houthis. Its simpler construction and lower material requirements make it potentially even easier to produce in dispersed facilities, complicating efforts to constrain supply chains.
Technical Specifications
- Wingspan: ~2.0 m
- Length: ~2.9 m
- Launch weight: ~135 kg
- Warhead: ~15-30 kg high-explosive
- Range: ~900 km
- Cruise speed: ~170-185 km/h
- Engine: Small piston engine
- Guidance: Inertial navigation + GPS
- Launch method: Rail-launched from truck-mounted racks
Range
~900 km
Compatible Platforms
Deployed By
Key Features
- Smaller and lighter than Shahed-136
- Even lower unit cost than Shahed-136
- Compatible with same launch infrastructure
- Reduced radar cross-section due to smaller size
- Used in mixed salvos with Shahed-136
Advantages
- Lower cost than the already cheap Shahed-136
- Smaller size complicates visual and radar detection
- Same launcher compatibility simplifies logistics
- Mass-producible with simple manufacturing
Limitations
- Smaller warhead limits damage per unit
- Reduced range limits to tactical/operational targets
- Same GPS-only guidance vulnerability as Shahed-136
- Slow cruise speed
- No terminal seeker