"More than 1,000 drones a high proportion of which are likely to be Shahed 136s have targeted Iran's Gulf neighbours since the US and Israel first attacked Tehran on Saturday morning. On Monday afternoon, the UAE said it had been attacked by 689 drones and had downed 645 meaning 44 drones, a little over 6% of the total, got through."
"The Shahed 136s are 3.5 metres long with a wingspan of 2.5 metres. Their relatively low cost and ease of manufacture, particularly compared with a ballistic missile, of which Iran could only make a few dozen of a year before the US-Israeli bombing started, means the drones are more likely to remain a feature of the conflict for some time."
"Most Shahed 136s are relatively slow, though faster jet engine variants have been seen in Ukraine, and can only carry an explosive payload of about 50kg enough to damage a skyscraper but not enough to bring it down. But their noise, their large size and final terminal dive readily provoke terror."
Iran deployed more than 1,000 Shahed 136 drones against Gulf allies of the US, including Bahrain, Kuwait, and the UAE, following US-Israeli strikes on Tehran. The Shahed 136, a $50,000 delta-winged drone measuring 3.5 meters long with a 2.5-meter wingspan, carries a 50kg explosive payload sufficient to damage buildings but not destroy them. Despite their relatively slow speed and modest payload, these drones prove effective through psychological impact and sheer volume. The UAE intercepted 645 of 689 attacking drones, allowing 44 to penetrate defenses. Successful strikes hit civilian buildings in Manama and a US naval facility housing the Fifth Fleet. The drones' low manufacturing cost and ease of production make them a sustainable weapon compared to ballistic missiles, suggesting their continued use in regional conflicts.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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