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History of Military Drones Timeline

(1917 - Present)

Military drones (unmanned aerial vehicles) have evolved from simple radio-controlled target aircraft in the early 20th century to sophisticated armed reconnaissance and strike platforms. This timeline traces their development through both World Wars, the Cold War, and the modern era of precision drone warfare. Less

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Iranian drone development

Iran seizes American RQ-170 Sentinel UAV

Dec 5, 2011

On 5 December 2011, the Iranian government seized an American Lockheed Martin RQ-170 Sentinel UAV, which had been commandeered and brought down by Iran's cyberwarfare unit. The captured drone was later reverse-engineered and became the basis for several Iranian stealth UAV designs.

Image source: Lockheed Martin RQ-170 Sentinel

Iran seizes American RQ-170 Sentinel UAV

Shahed 121 flies over USS Harry S. Truman

Jan 1, 2016

The Shahed 121 was first noticed in 2016 when it flew over the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman. The US Navy regarded the incident as a security breach which had not happened since 2014.

Image source: Shahed 129

Shahed 121 flies over USS Harry S. Truman

Shahed 191 revealed at Iranian arms expo

Oct 1, 2016

The Shahed 191, also called the Shahed Saeqeh, was first revealed at an Iranian arms expo in October 2016. It is based on the American Lockheed Martin RQ-170 Sentinel UAV that Iran seized in 2011 and reverse-engineered.

Image source: Shahed 191

Shahed 191 revealed at Iranian arms expo

Shahed 129 and Saeqeh set as backbone of Iran's fleet

Jan 1, 2017

As of 2017, the Shahed 129 and Shahed Saeqeh were expected to form the backbone of Iran's high-end UAV fleet for at least the next decade.

Shahed 149 Gaza unveiled

May 21, 2021

The Shahed 149 Gaza was unveiled on 21 May 2021 and named after the Gaza Strip in honor of Palestinians' struggle amid the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis.

Image source: Shahed 149 Gaza

Shahed 149 Gaza unveiled

Jet-powered version of Shahed 136 revealed in trailer

Sep 1, 2023

In September 2023, a trailer for an Iranian state TV documentary on Iranian drone development revealed a new version of Shahed 136 powered by a jet engine.

Image source: HESA Shahed 136

Jet-powered version of Shahed 136 revealed in trailer

New jet-powered drone unveiled at IRGC exhibition

Nov 1, 2023

The new jet-powered drone was publicly unveiled in November 2023 during an aerospace achievement exhibition organized by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which was attended by Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Shahed 147 revealed at Iranian Aerospace Force Exhibition

Nov 19, 2023

The Shahed 147 was revealed during the 19 November 2023 Iranian Aerospace Force Exhibition, attended by Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Shahed 107 revealed by anonymous security source

Jan 1, 2024

The Shahed 107 was revealed to Sky News by an anonymous security source in January 2024.

Investigations and diplomacy

UN panel confirms engines not made by Czech manufacturer

Jan 1, 2020

A UN panel of experts confirmed in 2020 that the engines used in Iranian drones are not products of the Czech engine manufacturer, which later denied allegations about supplying engines for Iranian drones.

Sky News reports Russian purchase documents

Sep 14, 2022

Months before Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi denied allegations of arming Russia, Sky News received purported document evidence dated 14 September 2022 from an informed source that Russia had purchased over US$1 million of artillery and tank shells and rockets.

President Raisi denies supplying drones to Russia

Sep 1, 2023

Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi denied the allegations, responding, 'We are against the war in Ukraine.'

Image source: Ebrahim Raisi

President Raisi denies supplying drones to Russia

US accuses Iran at UN General Assembly

Sep 1, 2023

During the seventy-eighth session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2023, the United States accused Iran of supplying Russia with drones during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and aiding Russia in the development of a drone production plant.

Image source: United Nations General Assembly

US accuses Iran at UN General Assembly

African women coerced into assembling drones at Alabuga

Jan 1, 2025

In 2025, open-source investigations and multiple investigative reports found that young women across Africa were being coerced into traveling to the Alabuga Special Economic Zone in Russia where they were promised hospitality work or scholarships, but instead are used to assemble Shahed drones, facing danger in harsh conditions as the area is targeted by Ukrainian air strikes.

Reports of children assembling Shahed drones

Jul 1, 2025

In July 2025, there were multiple reports, including a documentary by Russian defense ministry channel Zvezda, indicating that Russia was using children and teenagers to assemble Shahed drones used to attack Ukraine.

South Africa investigates Alabuga recruitment scheme

Nov 1, 2025

In November 2025, South Africa opened an investigation and issued a warning to its citizens after Russia was accused of making false promises to recruit young women to assemble Shahed drones.

Image source: Alabuga Special Economic Zone

South Africa investigates Alabuga recruitment scheme

Ukraine asked for assistance against Iranian drones

Jan 1, 2026

During the 2026 Iran war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Ukraine had received an American request for assistance against Iranian Shahed drones.

Image source: Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Ukraine asked for assistance against Iranian drones

Russia–Iran drone cooperation

Iran's pre-war drone customers were militias

Feb 24, 2022

Prior to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Iran's primary drone customers were various militias, including its own proxy militias across the Middle East.

Leaked emails reveal purchase of 6,000 Shahed 136s

Jan 1, 2023

A series of leaked emails and documents revealed Russia had purchased 6,000 Shahed 136s for US$193,000 each in 2023.

Russia plans 6,000 UCAVs by summer 2025

Jan 1, 2024

Russia aims to build 6,000 UCAVs by summer 2025 at a rate of 310 drones per month if the factory operates 24 hours a day, predicting the cost of production of one Geran-2 to be US$48,000.

Leaked documents reveal $1.75 billion drone deal

Feb 1, 2024

In February 2024, additional document evidence was leaked revealing Russia's purchases of drones and an arrangement for Iran to assist Russia in developing a manufacturing facility, both purchased for a total of US$1.75 billion, paid in gold ingots.

Geran-2 unit cost rises to around $80,000

Apr 1, 2024

Russia has upgraded the drones over several iterations and has consequently increased the unit production cost to around US$80,000 as of April 2024.

Drone attacks in Ukraine

Russian forces deploy Iranian drone variants against Ukraine

Feb 24, 2022

Following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, both variants of Iranian-designed drones have been deployed by Russian forces against Ukraine during the Russo-Ukrainian war and by Iranian forces during the 2026 Iran war.

Image source: Russo-Ukrainian War

Russian forces deploy Iranian drone variants against Ukraine

First photos of Shahed 136 remains released

Sep 13, 2022

The Shahed 136's first appearance came on 13 September 2022, when photos of the remains of a drone used by Russian forces during the invasion of Ukraine were publicly released.

Shahed 131 comes to prominence in Russo-Ukrainian war

Oct 1, 2022

The Shahed 131, also called Geran-1 (Герань-1, literally 'Geranium-1') in Russian service, came to prominence in October 2022 during the Russo-Ukrainian war.

Russian attack on Kyiv using Shahed 136 drones

Oct 17, 2022

Russia used Iranian Shahed 136 drones in an attack on Kyiv on 17 October 2022, during which four civilians were killed, including one woman who was six months pregnant. The drones were also used in the October 2022 missile strikes on Kyiv.

Another Russian attack using Iranian drones

May 28, 2023

Another Russian attack using Iranian drones took place on 28 May 2023, continuing the pattern of Shahed drone strikes against Ukrainian cities.

Evidence of Shahed 238 used in attack on Ukraine

Jan 1, 2024

In early January 2024, evidence emerged to suggest Russia had launched at least one Shahed 238, the jet-powered variant of the Shahed 136, in an attack on Ukraine.

Shahed drone attack on residential area in Sumy

Nov 22, 2024

On 22 November 2024, Russia attacked a residential area in Sumy, Ukraine, using Shahed drones.

Image source: Sumy

Shahed drone attack on residential area in Sumy

Massive Shahed drone attacks kill 13 civilians

May 17, 2025

On 17 May 2025, Russia conducted multiple attacks across Ukraine involving Shahed drones, killing at least 13 civilians and injuring 32.

Geran-3 wreckage found in Ukraine

Jun 1, 2025

Also, in June 2025, wreckage of a Geran-3 was found in Ukraine, with a serial number indicating that small-scale production had begun.

Over 38,000 Shahed drones launched by Russia in 2025

Dec 31, 2025

According to Ukrainian data, over 38,000 Iranian-made Shahed drones were launched by Russia in 2025, including 5,000 in September alone.

Russia deploys new jet-powered Geran-5 drone

Jan 11, 2026

On 11 January 2026, Russia deployed a new jet-powered drone called the Geran-5, with a 90-kilogram warhead, 1000-kilometer strike range, and the ability to be launched in flight by Su-25 aircraft according to HUR.

Key Facts

  1. The Kettering Bug, developed in 1918 during World War I, was one of the earliest attempts at an unmanned 'aerial torpedo,' though it never saw combat.
  2. During World War II, the U.S. converted B-17 bombers into remotely controlled drones for target practice and attack missions under projects like Operation Aphrodite.
  3. In the 1960s-1970s, reconnaissance drones like the Ryan Firebee were widely used by the U.S. during the Vietnam War for surveillance missions.
  4. The 1995 deployment of the General Atomics Predator marked a turning point, as it became the first drone to combine real-time surveillance with later missile-strike capability.
  5. Since the 2000s, armed drones such as the MQ-9 Reaper have become central to modern warfare, used extensively for targeted strikes and intelligence gathering.

Source

This History of Military Drones timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.

We work hard to keep these timelines accurate, but mistakes do get through. If you spot one, email us at [email protected] and we'll fix it for future visitors.

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