Shahed 149 Gaza

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]

Gaza (Shahed-149)
Role Unmanned combat aerial vehicle
National origin Iran
Manufacturer HESA
Design group Shahed Aviation Industries
Introduction April 2022[1]
Status Active
Primary user Iran
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 35 hours, a range of 2,000 km (1,200 miles), 21m wingspan, 350 km/h cruise 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][8]

General characteristics

  • Crew: none
  • Capacity: 13 bombs and 500 kg of electronic equipment
  • Length: 10.5 m (34 ft 5 in)
  • Wingspan: 21 m (68 ft 11 in)
  • Height: 3.2 m (10 ft 6 in)
  • Powerplant: 1 × turboprop, 650 to 750 hp (estimation)
  • Propellers: 4-bladed

Performance

  • Cruise speed: 350 km/h (220 mph, 190 kn)
  • Range: 7,000 km (4,300 mi, 3,800 nmi)
  • Endurance: 35h
  • 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

References
  1. "Flight Test Successful for IRGC's Gaza Drone - Politics news".
  2. "اسرائیل: ایران از قشم و چابهار عملیات دریایی و پهپادی می‌کند". BBC News فارسی (in Persian). Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  3. "جابجایی رکوردهای پهپادی ایران با «غزه»/ آخرین فناوری پهپادی سپاه چه ویژگی‌هایی دارد؟ | خبرگزاری فارس". www.farsnews.ir. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  4. "Iran displays long-range drone, names it 'Gaza' in honor of Palestinians' struggle". Al Arabiya English. 21 May 2021.
  5. "Iran's Revolutionary Guard names drone "Gaza," says it can carry 13 bombs over 1,200 miles". Newsweek. 21 May 2021.
  6. "Iran unveils new missiles, 'Gaza' drones - analysis". The Jerusalem Post.
  7. "Gaza UAV, new symbol of Iran's long-range UAV power". iranpress.com. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  8. "Iran unveils 'Gaza' UAV". Janes.com. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  9. "Iran unveils long-range drone named 'Gaza'". Associated Press. 21 May 2021.
  10. "Iran Guards unveil 'Gaza' drone in tribute to Palestinians". www.timesofisrael.com.
  11. @MohamadTaheri90 (23 February 2020). "#شاهد149 نام جدیدترین پهپاد ایرانی…" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2023 – via Twitter.
  12. Asia Times (2021). "Iran's new drone has a 7,000 km range: report".
  13. "Iran's 7,000km range drone is a warning to Israel - analysis". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
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