Shahed-238
Jet-powered evolution of the Shahed-136: three variants with GNSS, EO/IR or anti-radiation seekers, presented by Iran and Russia in 2023-2024.
Shahed-238
Jet-powered evolution of the Shahed-136: three variants with GNSS, EO/IR or anti-radiation seekers, presented by Iran and Russia in 2023-2024.
Community
Data trust
- Reliability
- Unverified
- Sources
- Sources pending review
Identity
- Designation
- Shahed-238
- Manufacturer
- Shahed Aviation Industries
- Country
- Iran
- Year
- 2023
- Category
- Loitering munition
- Class
- Tactical (< 600 kg)
- Status
- In service
Performance
- Range
- 1000 km
- Endurance
- Fino a 2 h
- Top speed
- 600 km/h
- Service ceiling
- 9,000 m
- Propulsion
- Turbojet (≈ 90 kgf)
Physical characteristics
- MTOW
- 320 kg
- Payload
- 50 kg
- Weapons
- Testata HE ≈ 50 kg
Onboard systems
- Sensors
- GNSS/INS; varianti con seeker EO/IR o anti-radiazione passivo
- Datalink / control
- Pre-programmata; varianti con datalink
- Launch
- Rampa a terra con booster
- Recovery
- Impatto sul bersaglio
Combat use
- ▸War in Ukraine (2024)
Tags
Main operators
History
Presented in November 2023 during 'Basij Week'. It retains the Shahed-136 delta airframe but replaces the piston engine with a turbojet, dramatically cutting time-to-target.
Examples have been observed in Ukraine in 2024.
The Shahed-238 is the jet-powered version of the Shahed-136, unveiled in 2023: it replaces the piston engine with a small turbojet that doubles cruise speed, drastically reducing air-defence reaction time.
Three declared variants exist: one with standard GPS/INS guidance, one with EO/IR seeker for moving targets, and one with passive anti-radar seeker of the MALD type.
The drone was transferred to Russia with the Geran-3 designation and entered service in Ukraine in 2024, posing new challenges for Ukrainian defences thanks to its higher speed compared with the original Shahed-136.