China Tests New Loitering Munition Mirroring Iran’s Shahed-136: Loong M9
According to OSINTWarfare’s report on December 2, 2025, China is testing a new long‑range loitering munition known as the Loong M9, a system that closely resembles Iran’s Shahed‑136 in both aerodynamic design and mission role. Developed for deep‑strike missions, extended reconnaissance, and the full spectrum of attack profiles typically associated with the Shahed series, the M9 now joins an expanding list of Chinese drones inspired by the Iranian platform, including the ASN‑301, DFX‑50, DFX‑100, Feilong‑300D, PD2900, and Sunflower‑200.
The Loong M9 is marketed as a heavy, long-endurance, oil‑powered delta‑wing UAV designed for reconnaissance, strike operations, tactical attacks, and aerial target practice. Launched using a rocket-assisted catapult, the drone features a carbon‑fiber molded airframe that provides high structural strength while minimizing weight, with limited rain resistance for operation in diverse environments. The M9 carries up to 50 kg of payload in a customizable internal bay—typically warheads—and uses a 108‑liter fuel tank to achieve a maximum range of 1,620 km, enabling extended missions and long-range strikes. It is equipped with dual visible‑light seeker tracking for target engagement, supported by sensor‑based guidance for a wide range of operational scenarios.
The M9 measures 2.5 m in wingspan and 3.5 m in length, with an empty weight of 62.5 kg and a maximum takeoff weight of 200 kg, placing it among heavy loitering munitions. It has a stall speed of 40 m/s, a cruise speed of 53 m/s, and a top speed of 62 m/s. Additional performance characteristics include a 5 m/s climb rate, 15° pitch and 28° roll limits, and a minimum turning radius of 450 m. The drone is rated to withstand Level 7 winds (50–61 km/h) and operate between –25°C and 60°C, with an IP54 environmental protection rating. Powered by a 550 cc EFI engine with a 1,000 W/28 V starter generator and a 33‑inch propeller, the M9 consumes 10–12 liters of fuel per hour and can remain airborne for eight to nine hours. Its service ceiling reaches approximately 4,500 meters.
A major emphasis of the Loong M9’s design is resilience against electronic warfare. The platform features interference‑resistant navigation and communication systems, including no‑GPS return capability, GPS‑free hovering, precision landing, and an anti-jamming datalink using broadband frequency hopping and a multi‑band satellite positioning system. The reconnaissance version is equipped with a wide‑angle telephoto infrared camera with three lenses, an AI‑enhanced night mode termed “AI Super Night Scene,” and additional automated flight functions, including what the manufacturer describes as “shouting and throwing,” possibly indicating audio broadcasting or lightweight payload release capability. The strike variant uses dual visible‑light seeker tracking and a fixed-coordinate attack mode, with terminal strike angles ranging from 15° to 70°. The rocket booster delivers 20 kN of total impulse at 20°C, with a burn time of 2.0 ± 0.2 seconds and a maximum weight of 23 kg (excluding the bracket).
Loong UAV positions the M9 within a larger ecosystem of reconnaissance drones, attack drones, FPV suicide drones, ground control stations, navigation equipment, airburst payloads, bomb‑release systems, data links, gimbals, and signal-detection hardware. Its product range includes Loong 8T for reconnaissance, Loong 3, Loong 4P, Loong 5, Loong 5H, Loong 7, Loong 15 attack drones, the Loong M2 FPV series, and the Loong M5 5000 and M10 suicide drones. This modular, multi‑class drone portfolio mirrors broader trends in China’s drone industry, particularly among companies like AVIC, which are building integrated drone families aimed at both domestic and international markets. The M9 is also clearly aligned with global demand for drones similar to the Iranian Shahed‑136, which gained notoriety due to Russia’s extensive use in Ukraine.
The Shahed‑136 itself emerged from Iran’s long‑term effort to develop asymmetric strike capabilities. Created by Shahed Aviation Industries, it was first seen in Yemen before being used by Iranian forces and later in large numbers by Russia. Despite earlier skepticism about Iran’s drone capabilities, the Shahed‑136 proved highly effective due to its long range, simple design, and operational reliability. The delta‑wing airframe, rear-mounted pusher propeller, 40–50 kg warhead, and overall mass of roughly 200 kg support a range of 2,000–2,500 km and speeds of 185–200 km/h. It relies on basic GPS and inertial navigation, trading sophistication for mass production, affordability, and expendability—qualities that have been crucial in large-scale saturation attacks.
The drone is widely copied because it offers long-range precision attack capability at very low cost, using commercially available parts and straightforward manufacturing methods. Its affordability enables swarm tactics, forcing defenders to expend expensive interceptors and creating economically unfavorable conditions for air defense forces. This approach has repeatedly pressured Ukrainian defenses, showing how simple, low-cost weapons can offset an opponent’s technological superiority. Some variants reportedly feature anti‑radiation behavior, homing on radar emissions. This adaptability, combined with low production barriers, has made the Shahed‑136 a global template for accessible long-range strike systems.
As a result, many countries have adopted or adapted its basic design philosophy. Russia produces its own version, the Geran‑2, with mass production underway at the Alabuga facility. The United States has created Shahed‑inspired replicas such as the MQM‑172 Arrowhead and LUCAS. Across the former Soviet region, Ukraine fields the Batyar and Gupalo‑N, Belarus the Nomad, and Poland the PLargonia. In East Asia, Chinese firms have developed systems like the DFX‑50, DFX‑100, and Sunflower‑200, while North Korea has displayed a similar large drone. In the Middle East, Saudi Arabia developed the X‑1500, Turkey the Azab family, Israel the Delta‑RS2, Egypt the Jabbar‑150, and India has initiated long‑range loitering munition programs in the 150‑kg class.
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