The Shahed 149 Gaza (Persian: پهپاد غزه) or (Persian: شاهد ۱۴۹),[3] is an Iranian unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) operated by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. It was unveiled on 21 May 2021 and named after the Gaza Strip in honor of the Palestinians' struggle against Israel amid the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis.[4][5][6] It was delivered to the IRGC Aerospace Force in 2022.[7][1]
| Shahed 149 Gaza | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Rear view of a Shahed 149 Gaza | |
| Role | Unmanned combat aerial vehicle |
| National origin | Iran |
| Manufacturer | HESA |
| Design group | Shahed Aviation Industries |
| Introduction | April 2022[1] |
| Status | Active |
| Primary user | Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps |
| Produced | 3 as of April 2022 |
| Developed from | Shahed 129[2] |
The Gaza drone is a high-altitude long-endurance UAV similar in size, shape and role to the American MQ-9 Reaper.[7][8] It is a larger, heavier, and more capable aircraft than the earlier Shahed 129 which was similar to the MQ-1 Predator.[7] It has a flight duration of 24 hours, a maximum operating radius of 2,500km (1,562 miles), 21m wingspan, 340 km/h maximum speed and is capable of carrying 13 bombs and 500 kg of electronic equipment.[4][9][10] It is the first Iranian UAV powered by a turboprop engine.[3]
History
On February 23, 2020, a defense reporter for Tasnim News posted on Twitter that Iran was developing a drone called "Shahed 149". This is the first mention of the drone.[11]
The drone was unveiled in May 2021.[1]
The drone passed its flight tests in April 2022 and was accepted for service the same month.[1]
Specifications
Data from [12][13][7][9][14][8]
General characteristics
- Crew: none
- Capacity: 1500kg maximum weight of fuel and cargo
- Length: 10 m (32 ft 10 in)
- Wingspan: 21 m (68 ft 11 in)
- Height: 3.2 m (10 ft 6 in)
- Max takeoff weight: 3,200 kg (7,055 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Turboprop engine powered by a gas turbine built by MAPNA
- Propellers: 4-bladed
Performance
- Cruise speed: 340 km/h (210 mph, 180 kn)
- Range: 7,000 km (4,300 mi, 3,800 nmi)
- Combat range: 2,500 km (1,600 mi, 1,300 nmi)
- Endurance: 24h
- Service ceiling: 11,000 m (35,000 ft)
Armament
- Bombs: 13 bombs, internal atrium and rotating arm release device
Avionics
- Electro-optical/infrared sensors, including:
- Day-vision camera with a zoom power of at least 100 to 120 times
- Thermal imager camera
- Laser rangefinder
- Environmental monitoring within a radius of 500 km
- Stealth aircraft detection up to a radius of 500 km
- Satellite communication antenna
See also
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists