Militaries and defense companies across the globe have quietly conceded: The Shahed loitering munition, an inexpensive, long-range, kamikaze drone from Iran, is no longer a curiosity. It's the blueprint.

Several countries have reportedly begun manufacturing copies of Iran’s Shahed drone, which are not expensive but efficient and accurate.

Iran’s permanent mission to the United Nations has stressed there is “no legal prohibition” on the sale of the country’s Shahed drone, one of the world’s most advanced unmanned aerial vehicles, to other countries, after reports alleged it was used by Russia in its war on Ukraine.