Low-cost drones are reshaping warfare, as seen in Ukraine for the last four years, and now in the Iran war. Iran’s low-cost Shahed drones have inspired the US’s LUCAS. In India, low-cost, deep-strike drone projects like Sheshnag-150 and Project KAL are picking pace.
In Iran’s war with the US and Israel, low-cost drones have given Tehran unprecedented leverage. Iran’s Shahed-136 drone has been the inspiration for indigenous models, costing between $20,000 and $50,000 per unit. In fact, the US’s Low-cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System, aka LUCAS drone, is based on the same design as Shahed. India, too, is ramping up its firepower capability with indigenous long-range strike drones.
Before proving its mettle in the current war, Iran’s Shahed-136 drone made its mark in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, forcing Kyiv to spend millions in intercepting them. That Iran, a country without an effective air force, could hit deep inside countries, reveals the power of its drones and missiles. The US’s low-cost LUCAS drones look very similar to Iran’s Shahed-136.
Before the Ukraine-Russia war, it was the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh that showed how drones and loitering munitions could tilt the balance of military power. Azerbaijan won the war and its extensive use of drones, especially those from Israel and Turkey, is credited for its victory.
The newer dimension to this is low-cost drones that push the enemy into a financial and material attrition. For example, the Shahed-136 kamikaze drones cost anywhere between $20,000 to $50,000 each. But the US and Israel are spending millions on intercepting them. Each Patriot missile costs $4 million, while some interceptors could cost up to $12 million.
Therefore, low-cost drones and interceptors have become vital in modern warfare.
India has two low-cost long-range striking drone projects. While the Sheshnag-150 is being developed by Bengaluru-based startup NewSpace Research and Technologies (NRT), the second is Project KAL, by Noida-based IG Defence, The two would give the Indian armed forces a cost-effective edge to carry out precision attacks.
India has several indigenous drones already in operation or inducted with its armed forces. While major high-end platforms like Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE), and High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) UAVs are in trials or development, smaller tactical, surveillance, swarm, and combat drones from Indian private firms and DRDO have been delivered, inducted, and used operationally, including in exercises and real scenarios.
WHAT ARE INDIA’S SESHNAG AND PROJECT KAL STRIKE DRONES?
India’s armed forces have inducted several indigenous attack drones, primarily loitering munitions, for precision strikes. One such indigenous drone is the Nagastra-1 from Solar Industries, inducted since 2024 with batches delivered. These one-way systems enable infantry-level precision attacks with minimal collateral damage.
The SkyStriker ‘suicide drones’, developed by Bengaluru-based Alpha Design (ADTL) in collaboration with Israel’s Elbit Systems, also made their operational debut during Operation Sindoor in the forward areas of Jammu and Kashmir.
However, low-cost Shahed-type drones are now being developed in India.
Project KAL, is reportedly in its early stages, and is designed as a deep-penetration strike drone with a range of up to 1,000 km and an endurance of three to five hours. It can fly into enemy territory, spot targets, adjust its path, and deliver a high-explosive payload.
Meanwhile, the Sheshnag-150, named after the mythological multi-headed serpent king, is a long-range swarming attack drone, with autonomous systems capable of deep strikes and saturation attacks.
Weighing about 150 kg, Sheshnag also boasts a 1,000-1,200 km range, and can 25-40 kg payload, and over five hours of flight time. What sets it apart is its AI-powered swarm tech — multiple drones can team up autonomously to evade defences and hit targets together. Sheshnaag-150 first flew in February 2025, and the project gained urgency after Operation Sindoor last year.
NRT’s Sheshnag series also include shorter-range versions like SN-20, that can go up to 20 km, and SN-50, which can carry out attacks up to 50 km.
VEM Technologies is also developing a similar low-cost drone, according to reports. However, the specifics remain undisclosed.
Last year, IG Drones successfully completed First-Person View (FPV) drone trials in high-altitude regions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. The trials featured its cutting-edge Striker FPV drone, designed for tactical combat, surveillance, and intelligence-gathering missions.
HOW IRAN’S SHAHED DRONES HAVE INSPIRED LOW-COST DRONES GLOBALLY
Iran’s Shahed-136 drone has been the inspiration for the indigenous models as they cost just $20,000-$50,000 per unit, and can overwhelm expensive air defences when launched in swarms. In the Russia-Ukraine war, these drones, rebranded as Geran-2 by Russia, have targeted power grids and military sites, forcing Ukraine to spend millions on intercepts. Their simple design, long range (up to 2,500 km), and 40-50 kg warhead make them a game-changer in asymmetric battles.
Even the US has developed a drone based on the same design as Shahed — the Low-cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System, aka LUCAS drone. Priced at around $35,000, LUCAS has been used in strikes against Iranian itself. This shows how effective these low-cost drones are.
To give you an idea, let’s take the example of the MQ-9B SkyGuardian or SeaGuardian variant, made by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems. Though it features longer endurance, of over 40 hours, higher altitude capabilities, certifiable for civil airspace integration, and enhanced sensors and payload options, a single unit of the MQ-9B typically costs $30-80 million, based on the configuration.
For that price, around 600 to 1,500 Shahed-136 drones could be produced.
US Central Command chief, Admiral Brad Cooper, called it “indispensable”, saying it turns Iran’s own weapon against them.
Defence experts and journalists have weighed in on the drones’ potential.
Indian Army veteran and drone expert Anshuman Narang, in an X post, urged the Indian forces to operationalise the indigenous Shahed-style drones “at the earliest”.
The Indian Army is raising specialised drone warfare units equipped with indigenous UAVs.
Aviation enthusiast Arihant Ray, said on his X account, “India’s own Shahed 136/Geran drone equivalent is here. Meet Sheshnaag… We can mass produce this and use them in swarm to saturate, degrade and destroy individual units of hostile IADS.”