Iranian-designed Shahed drones are emerging as one of the most disruptive weapons in recent conflicts across the Middle East and Eastern Europe, combining low cost with sophisticated navigation and anti-jamming capabilities that challenge even advanced defence systems.
Originally built as loitering munitions designed to explode on impact, the Shahed drones rely on a clever mix of navigation technologies. According to analysts at Royal United Services Institute, the drones initially connect to GPS to establish their position before switching to an inertial navigation system. This system uses internal sensors such as gyroscopes to guide the drone without relying on external signals.
This approach allows the drones to bypass heavy GPS jamming commonly deployed around high-value targets. As military researcher Thomas Withington explained in comments reported by Agence France-Presse, avoiding continuous GPS usage helps the drones evade electronic interference. In some cases, the drones reconnect to GPS shortly before impact to improve strike accuracy.
Beyond navigation, Shahed drones have also demonstrated advanced resistance to electronic warfare. A 2023 study by the US-based Institute for Science and International Security found that variants used in Ukraine incorporated high-level antenna systems capable of filtering out jamming signals while preserving legitimate navigation data.
Experts say these capabilities are increasingly being replicated and improved. Russia, for instance, has developed its own versions of the Shahed platform for use in Ukraine, integrating multiple satellite navigation systems such as China’s BeiDou and Russia’s GLONASS to further reduce vulnerability to disruption.
In addition to electronic resilience, the drones are physically designed for stealth. Built from lightweight materials like plastic and fibreglass, they have low radar visibility. Their small size and ability to fly at low altitudes make them difficult for conventional air defence systems to detect and intercept.
There is also speculation that Iran may be experimenting with alternative navigation technologies such as LORAN—a ground-based radio navigation system dating back to World War II. Although largely obsolete, such systems could provide a backup when satellite signals are denied.
Defending against Shahed drones has proven challenging. Military responses have included traditional methods like missiles and anti-aircraft guns, as well as newer approaches such as interceptor drones and directed-energy weapons like lasers. Electronic warfare remains a key tool, with techniques like signal jamming and “spoofing” used to misdirect or disable incoming drones.
Ukrainian military data suggests that electronic defences are becoming increasingly effective. Between mid-May and mid-July 2025, thousands of attacking drones were neutralised using electronic warfare—nearly matching the number destroyed by kinetic means.
Despite these efforts, analysts warn that the continued evolution of Shahed drones underscores a broader shift in modern warfare—where inexpensive, adaptable systems can challenge even the most technologically advanced militaries.
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