RQ-20 Puma vs Shahed 131
The RQ-20 Puma and the Shahed 131 are both Military Drones, manufactured by AeroVironment and HESA respectively. The Shahed 131 reaches 185 km/h — 2.2x the RQ-20 Puma's 83 km/h. The RQ-20 Puma has an operational range of 15 km vs 900 km for the Shahed 131. At 135 kg MTOW, the Shahed 131 is 22:1 the RQ-20 Puma's 6 kg. Unit cost is $0.25M for the RQ-20 Puma vs $0.02M for the Shahed 131.
| American battery-powered, small hand-launched unmanned aircraft system for surveillance and intelligence gathering. | |
| Origin country | 🇺🇸 United States |
| Category | Military Drones |
| Manufacturer | AeroVironment |
| First flight | 1 January 2007 |
| Year introduced | 2008 |
| Number produced | 1000 units |
| Average unit price | $250K |
| Iranian-made one-way attack drone, developed in the early 21st century, used for precision strikes against infrastructure and military targets. | |
| Origin country | 🇮🇷 Iran |
| Category | Military Drones |
| Manufacturer | HESA |
| First flight | -- |
| Year introduced | 2022 |
| Number produced | N/A |
| Average unit price | $20K |
| Wingspan | 2.8 m ◉ |
| Length | 1.4 m ◉ |
| Maximum speed | 83 km/h ◉ |
| Operational range | 15 km ◉ |
| Service ceiling | 3,200 m |
| Max. takeoff weight | 6 kg ◉ |
| Total thrust | 0 ◉ |
| Wingspan | 2.2 m ◉ |
| Length | 2.6 m ◉ |
| Maximum speed | 185 km/h ◉ |
| Operational range | 900 km ◉ |
| Service ceiling | -- m |
| Max. takeoff weight | 135 kg ◉ |
| Total thrust | 1 x 38 hp ◉ |
Performance Radar Chart
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is faster, the RQ-20 Puma or Shahed 131?
The Shahed 131 is faster with a maximum speed of 185 km/h compared to the RQ-20 Puma's 83 km/h, a difference of 102 km/h.
Which has longer range, the RQ-20 Puma or Shahed 131?
The Shahed 131 has a longer range at 900 km compared to the RQ-20 Puma's 15 km.
Which can fly higher, the RQ-20 Puma or Shahed 131?
The RQ-20 Puma has a higher service ceiling at 3,200 meters (10,498 ft) compared to the Shahed 131's 0 meters (0 ft).
Which is heavier, the RQ-20 Puma or Shahed 131?
The Shahed 131 has a higher maximum takeoff weight at 135 kg compared to the RQ-20 Puma's 6 kg.
Which is larger, the RQ-20 Puma or Shahed 131?
The Shahed 131 is longer at 2.6 meters compared to the RQ-20 Puma's 1.4 meters.
Which is more expensive, the RQ-20 Puma or Shahed 131?
The RQ-20 Puma is more expensive at approximately $0.2 million per unit compared to the Shahed 131 at $0.0 million.
Which entered service first, the RQ-20 Puma or Shahed 131?
The RQ-20 Puma entered service first in 2008, 14 years before the Shahed 131 which entered service in 2022.