The cost of a Shahed‑136 — often referred to simply as “Shahed drone” — has become a point of serious discussion in global media and defense analysis. Depending on production method, buyer, and modifications, the “shahed drone price” can vary widely. This article explores what is publicly known (or estimated) about Shahed‑136 pricing, how and why it fluctuates, and also touches on a related drone, AQ-400 Scythe, to offer some perspective.

What is Shahed‑136 (and why price matters)

Shahed‑136 is a kamikaze / loitering munition drone — a UAV designed for one-way attack, delivering a warhead to a target and detonating. Its appeal (for operators) lies in the low cost relative to traditional guided missiles or long-range air‑delivered weapons. Defense Feeds+2securitymagazin.cz+2

Because of this cost advantage, the “shahed drone price” becomes a crucial factor: the lower the cost per unit, the more drones can be mass‑produced and deployed — making Shahed‑type drones an asymmetric threat tool. en.defence-ua.com+2ThePricer+2

Reported Price Ranges for Shahed‑136

There is no universally agreed fixed price for Shahed‑136. Instead, several estimates — often divergent — reflect different contexts (factory cost, export contracts, domestic production) and time periods:

• Some expert‑driven estimates place the manufacturing cost of Shahed‑136 between US$20,000 and US$50,000 per unit. Defense Feeds+2United24 Media+2
• A more detailed breakdown published recently suggests components like airframe, engine, guidance, warhead, battery and other elements lead to a “factory total” around US$30,000 per drone (before overhead, shipping, and export‑related costs). ThePricer
• However, leaked procurement data — particularly related to early sales to foreign buyers — paint a different picture. According to those documents, the “sticker price” for a Shahed supplied by the original manufacturer was as high as US$375,000 per unit. Forbes+1
• In actual bulk‑purchase deals, the unit price reportedly settled at US$193,000 per drone for orders of 6,000 units; smaller batches (e.g. 2,000 units) supposedly cost around US$290,000 each. Forbes+2RBC Ukraine+2
• More recently, as production has been localized (for instance in a factory in Russia), the cost has reportedly decreased — a production-rate jump has driven the per-unit cost down. Some sources argue the cost per drone (as of 2025) may have dropped to roughly US$70,000, though estimates still commonly put it between US$50,000 and US$70,000. en.defence-ua.com+2United24 Media+2

Thus, when people cite “shahed drone price,” the disparity — from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars — typically reflects which version, when, and how it was produced or sold.

What Explains the Wide Range in Shahed Drone Price

Why does the price vary so dramatically? Several factors contribute:

• Manufacturing vs. Export vs. Licensed Production: The cheapest estimates (US$20k–50k) generally refer to raw manufacturing cost under ideal conditions, using basic components. Defense Feeds+1 For early export contracts, when Iran sold drones abroad (or to foreign actors), additional costs — markup, logistics, licensing, sanctions‑evasion — inflated the price (hence, $193,000–$375,000). Forbes+2RBC Ukraine+2
• Bulk Orders vs. Small Orders: Large orders (thousands of units) tend to lower the per‑unit cost due to economies of scale. ThePricer+1 Smaller or clandestine orders typically incur higher per-unit costs owing to risks, middle‑man fees, and supply chain complications. ThePricer+1
• On‑site Production / Localization: When production shifts to a localized facility (for example in another country under license), costs drop because transportation, sanctions-related logistics, and import of sensitive components get minimized. securitymagazin.cz+1
• Upgrades and Variants: Different versions or upgraded drones (better guidance, more reliable engines, enhanced warheads) can raise costs — meaning a “basic” Shahed‑136 might be comparatively cheap, while one with advanced electronics or modifications costs more.

Comparison with AQ-400 Scythe — an Alternative Perspective

To better gauge the implications of Shahed pricing, it helps to compare with other low‑cost kamikaze drones, such as the AQ-400 Scythe. According to publicly available information:

• The airframe (basic shell) of AQ-400 Scythe reportedly costs around US$15,000. The War Zone+1
• With guidance systems and other necessary components fitted, the total cost rises — to roughly US$30,000–US$20,000–50,000 depending on configuration. Forbes+1
• As compared with a mid‑range or basic-configured Shahed‑136 (US$20k–50k range), the AQ-400 Scythe is positioned as a cheaper, simpler alternative. Forbes+1

Thus, for operators or militaries looking for “cheap kamikaze capability,” drones like AQ-400 Scythe potentially offer cost‑effective alternatives — but with tradeoffs in performance, payload, or range when compared to more capable variants of drones like Shahed‑136.

Implications of Shahed Drone Price in Modern Warfare

The relatively low cost of kamikaze drones — especially when manufacturing is ramped up — has a number of strategic and tactical consequences:

• Mass Production Makes Swarms Affordable: When each Shahed‑136 can cost as little as $20–50k (or around $70k in localized production), militaries or non‑state actors can produce hundreds or even thousands of units for the price of a few traditional missiles. This enables “saturation attacks,” overwhelming air-defense systems by volume rather than relying on a few expensive precision missiles.
• Cost Inefficiency for Defenders: Intercepting or defending against a single Shahed may require expensive interceptors. The defense cost per enemy drone can far exceed the drone’s cost — making defense financially and logistically burdensome. This imbalance is often cited as a reason why loitering munitions have become popular in asymmetric conflicts.
• Lower Barrier to Entry: The low production cost lowers entry barriers for non-state or lower-budget actors to acquire and deploy destructive drone technology — raising proliferation concerns worldwide.
• Upgradable Threat — But Still Cheap: Even with upgrades for better guidance, warheads, or improved range, drones like Shahed remain comparatively inexpensive compared to conventional missiles — meaning their threat profile remains significant even when “enhanced.”

Why “shahed 136 price” is Hard to Nail Down — The Uncertainty

When someone looks up “shahed 136 price,” there are legitimate reasons why the answers vary widely — and why there’s no universally accepted figure:

• Secrecy and Classified Deals: Export deals for military drones often involve secrecy, sanctions evasion, or complex logistics, masking real cost. Leaked documents (when they surface) show high prices, but these may include extra costs beyond simple manufacturing.
• Variable Configurations: Shahed‑136 units differ — basic versions could be cheap, upgraded ones much more expensive. Additionally, if electronics, guidance, or better warheads are added, cost varies.
• Production Location and Scale: Prices depend heavily on where and how many units are produced. Fully localized mass production reduces cost drastically compared to small-scale imports.
• External Costs: Logistics, shipping, sanctions compliance, middlemen, licensing, transport — all add to the base cost. So “factory cost” vs “delivered cost” may differ by orders of magnitude.
• Time-based Changes: As technology, supply chains, and production scale evolve (especially during conflict), cost estimates become outdated. What was true in 2022 may not apply in 2025.

Given all these variables, quoting a single number as “the price” of a Shahed‑136 is almost meaningless without specifying context (manufacturing vs sold/imported, base vs upgraded, etc.).

Summary — What You Should Keep in Mind About Shahed Drone Price

• The “shahed drone price” most often cited — US$20,000 to US$50,000 — refers to ideal factory‑level manufacturing costs, not necessarily what a buyer might pay.
• Exported or early‑batch drones reportedly sold for much more: between ~US$193,000 to US$375,000 per unit, depending on order size and contract terms.
• Localized production in countries with license or co‑production arrangements seems to have lowered the cost significantly: some 2025 reports cite US$50,000–70,000 per unit for drones built outside the original country.
• Cheaper drones like AQ-400 Scythe exist, offering similar “kamikaze drone” capabilities for lower cost (airframe ~US$15,000; fully equipped ~US$30,000+). This illustrates that the principle of low-cost loitering munitions is not unique to Shahed, but is part of a broader trend in modern drone warfare.
• Because of variation in configuration, production, and procurement conditions — plus secrecy — any price quoted without context should be treated with caution.

Final Thoughts: Why Shahed‑136 (and similar drones) Are Game‑Changers — and Why Price Matters

The appeal of Shahed‑136 is not just its destructive capacity, but its affordability relative to traditional missiles and air-delivered munitions. For actors with limited budgets, or those seeking to use drone swarms in asymmetric ways, a low “per‑unit drone price” is transformational.

At the same time, price variation — from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars — reveals that “cheap drone” is not always cheap: procurement, logistics, sanctions, and upgrades all add cost layers.

But as manufacturing evolves — especially with localized production and simpler materials — drones like Shahed‑136 (or cheaper designs like AQ-400 Scythe) threaten to make loitering munitions widely accessible. That accessibility, paired with the low cost per unit, fundamentally changes the risk calculations for defenders worldwide.