Iran's Shahed-136 Drones: Cheap, Deadly, and Disrupting Global Oil Routes
CCNBC Awaaz•05-03-2026, 18:06
Iran's Shahed-136 Drones: Cheap, Deadly, and Disrupting Global Oil Routes
- •Iranian-made Shahed-136 'kamikaze' drones, dubbed 'poor man's cruise missile', are Iran's primary weapon, terrorizing Middle Eastern countries and used by Russia against Ukraine.
- •These drones have halted ship movement in the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting global oil and gas supplies, indirectly affecting the world economy.
- •US officials claim Iran launched 2,000 drones; UAE reported 941 detected, with 65 causing damage to ports, airports, and data centers within its borders.
- •Shahed-136 drones are highly cost-effective ($20,000-$50,000) compared to interceptor missiles ($3M-$12M), carrying 30-50 kg explosives over 1500 km.
- •Experts warn these drones, while not effective against strong defenses, pose a significant threat to cargo ships and are used to test enemy defenses.
