Another American Company Replicates the Shahed-136: MQM-172 Arrowhead

In a statement from Daniel Beck, Program Manager at Griffon Aerospace, the Arrowhead is described as a highly versatile platform tailored to meet a wide range of mission requirements. Beck emphasized that, beyond its role as a high-performance target drone, the Arrowhead can be configured as a one-way attack system (i.e., a suicide drone), capable of delivering decisive impact during critical operations.

Griffon claims the drone features a modular payload bay capable of carrying up to 45 kilograms, allowing for the integration of various sensors or warheads depending on mission needs. However, no further technical specifications have been disclosed.

Despite its striking resemblance to the Shahed-136, Griffon insists the MQM-172 was “designed, tested, and manufactured in-house,” drawing on the company’s experience producing over 12,000 drones!!!

The move comes after the Iranian Shahed-136 demonstrated notable battlefield success in West Asia—particularly in Yemen—and its Russian-assembled variant, known as Geran, made headlines in Ukraine. These operational achievements appear to have prompted the U.S. military to explore similar capabilities, leading its contractors to develop and deploy comparable systems.

Given America’s global reach and access to nearly every active conflict zone, the mass production and deployment of such loitering munitions—either directly or through allied forces—could pose serious strategic challenges. One possible scenario: Ukrainian forces might begin using American-made Shahed-style drones to target Russian energy and military infrastructure, mirroring Russia’s own tactics with Geran drones!