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.