The current war USA and Israel hold against Iran has brought the operational debut of new weapons by the contenders. Despite the little information confirmed in these first days of the conflict about the weapons technology used, it has been known that the United States has used its copy of the Iranian drone for the first time. Shahed-136, LUKEand the new precision attack ballistic missile PrSM. Now, according to Military Affairs, Tehran has confirmed the first combat use of the Hadid-110 kamikaze drone. This is a new high-speed loitering munition, with reduced radar visibility and a range of more than 350 km. Its existence was revealed last December and it is considered Iran’s fastest stealth drone.
It was then presented at a defense exhibition organized by Iran’s Defense Ministry. The system is designed as a disposable unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) intended for suicide attack missions. Its design seeks to combine a speed significantly higher than that of the Shahed series drones with a relatively simple and low-cost production architecture.
The Shahed-136, the best-known UAV in the Iranian and also the Russian arsenal (Russia It has been using them since September 2022 in the war of Ukraine and manufactures them under the name Geran), is a suicide drone presented in 2021 and developed by the Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company (HESA), subsidiary of the Iran Aviation Industries Organization (IAIO).
Measures approximately 3.5 meters in length, has a wingspan of 2.5 meters and weighs around 200 kilograms. It carries a high-explosive warhead of between 30 and 50 kilograms. Propulsion is provided by a piston engine MADO MD-550 of about 50 horsepower, derived from the German engine Limbach L550Ewith propeller.
This configuration allows the drone to reach a maximum speed of approximately 185 kilometers per hour. Its autonomy and range constitute its main advantages, with estimates that place its operational radius between 1,000 and 2,500 kilometersaccording to the flight profile. Navigation is mainly based on an inertial guidance system supported by positioning GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System).
Hadid-110, almost three times faster than Shahed-136
The Hadid-110 follows a different design approach. Instead of a piston engine, the drone is equipped with a compact jet engine. This propulsion system allows a cruising speed of approximately 510 kilometers per houralmost three times the speed of the Shahed-136. The launch is carried out by an accelerator rocket which propels the aircraft until the jet engine takes over propulsion, a common configuration in small jet drones.
Its structure combines a configuration of delta winglike the Shahed-136, with highly angled surfaces intended to reduce the radar signature and delay detection by the adversary during the approach phase.
The available data indicate that the Hadid-110 carries a warhead of about 30 kilograms. Its operational range is estimated at approximately 350 kilometers and its autonomy is close to one hour. The drone can operate at altitudes up to 9,115 meters.
The combination of Hadid-110 drones with Shahed-136
A comparison between the Hadid-110 and the Shahed-136 highlights the operational logic behind the new system. The Shahed-136 is designed primarily for long range saturation attacks. Their relatively low production cost allows large numbers of drones to be launched simultaneously from truck-mounted launchers, creating attacks aimed at overwhelming air defense systems.
However, its relatively low speed gives more time to detect and intercept incoming drones. The Hadid-110, on the other hand, prioritize speed over range. With a cruising speed of more than 500 kilometers per hour, it considerably reduces the interval between detection and impact, which complicates interception.
Both drones seem designed to be used in combination. The Shaheds can be launched in large numbers to saturate radar coverage and consume interceptor missiles, while faster systems such as the Hadid-110 would attempt to exploit gaps in the defensive network and hit high-value targets such as command centers, radar facilities or logistics infrastructures.
The appearance of the Hadid-110 also reflects the evolution of loitering munition technology. Jet-powered kamikaze drones now occupy an intermediate position between conventional suicide drones and cruise missiles. Their lower cost compared to the latter allows them to be deployed in greater numbers, while offering a higher speed than propeller drones.