South Korea to develop domestic version of Iran’s Shahed-136 drone

South Korea has announced plans to develop and deploy domestically produced loitering munitions based on Iran’s Shahed-136 unmanned aerial vehicle, according to the country’s Ministry of Defense.

The ministry confirmed that the indigenous drones are being developed through reverse-engineering of the Iranian platform and are expected to enter operational service under a broader initiative to expand South Korea’s unmanned aerial capabilities. The program is part of a larger procurement plan that includes the acquisition of more than 20,000 low-cost drones, encompassing short-range reconnaissance UAVs and loitering munitions.

The Shahed-136, developed by Iran several years ago, is a delta-wing loitering munition with an operational range of approximately 1,800 to 2,500 kilometers. It carries a warhead of 30 to 50 kilograms and is powered by a four-cylinder piston engine driving a pusher propeller. Guidance is provided by an inertial navigation system supplemented by GPS, and the drone is typically launched from rail-equipped vehicles. Its relatively low production cost—estimated between $20,000 and $50,000 per unit—has made it a key asset in Iran’s asymmetric warfare strategy.