Asia Times: Iranian drone technology inspires Washington in next-generation UAV development

Pars Today – A Hong Kong-based publication reported on the U.S. copying Iran’s Shahed 136 drone.

Asia Times reported that, contrary to its previous approach, the U.S. has begun modeling its weapons on effective foreign technologies, with Iranian technology now serving as inspiration for Washington.

According to Pars Today, Asia Times noted that the Iranian Shahed 136—a single-use drone—uses a 215cc piston carburetor engine with a swan-propeller to create a loud, distinctive sound resembling a “motorcycle engine” or “lawn mower,” and it is capable of flying for six hours.

The report continues that, as part of its low-cost unmanned strike system program, the U.S. has begun copying the Iranian drone, valued between $20,000 and $50,000, and is expected to price the U.S. version at around $35,000. This likely does not include the cost of a rocket booster at launch or the research and development expenses required to produce the American version.

According to the report, the drone—now known in the U.S. as FLM 136—has been deployed in West Asia as part of a new CENTCOM unit called “Scorpion Strike.” The use of a copied Iranian drone by CENTCOM represents a significant shift from the U.S.’s traditional approach.