Shahed Saegheh
{{Short description|Iranian flying wing unmanned combat aerial vehicle}}
The Shahed Saegheh ({{langx|fa|شاهد صاعقه}}, Witness Thunderbolt), also called the Shahed 191, is an Iranian turbofan/piston-powered flying wing unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) produced by Shahed Aviation Industries.{{cite journal |last1=Taghvaee |first1=Babak |title=Shahed 129 Heads Iran's Armed UAV Force |url=http://aviationweek.com/defense/shahed-129-heads-iran-s-armed-uav-force |journal=Aviation Week & Space Technology |date=Jul 27, 2017 }} It is based on, but smaller than and substantially different from, a Lockheed Martin RQ-170 Sentinel UAV that was captured by Iran in 2011 and then reverse-engineered.{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/01/iran-builds-thunderbolt-drone |title=Iran builds attack drone similar to captured US model, local media say |newspaper=The Guardian |date=2 October 2016 |author= |access-date= 2 October 2016}} It is one of two Iranian flying wing UAVs based on the RQ-170, along with the Shahed 171 Simorgh, a larger version.
The Saegheh was revealed in October 2016.{{cite web|url=https://theaviationist.com/2016/10/02/iran-unveils-new-ucav-modeled-on-captured-u-s-rq-170-stealth-drone/|title=Iran unveils new UCAV modeled on captured U.S. RQ-170 stealth drone|first=David|last=Cenciotti|date=2 October 2016}}
The drones can carry two Sadid-1 missiles, externally for the Saegheh-1, and internally for the Saegheh-2.{{cite web |last1=Nikolov |first1=Boyko |title=CIA's RQ-170 UAV could usher in a new series of Russian drones |url=https://bulgarianmilitary.com/2023/06/12/cias-rq-170-uav-could-usher-in-a-new-series-of-russian-drones/ |access-date=17 April 2024 |date=12 June 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Roblin |first1=Sebastien |title=Your Guide to Iran's Diverse Fleet of Combat Drones |url=https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/your-guide-iran%E2%80%99s-diverse-fleet-combat-drones-193654 |website=The National Interest |access-date=17 April 2024 |language=en |date=14 September 2021}}
As of 2017, 10 Saegheh drones were in production, and Iran planned to procure at least 50 by 2025.
Variants
The specifications for the Saegheh are unknown, but it is believed to have a wingspan around 6–7 meters.{{cite web|url=https://dronewarsuk.files.wordpress.com/2018/05/dw-nextgeneration-web.pdf|title=Drone Wars: The Next Generation: An overview of current operators of armed drones|first=Joanna|last=Frew|date=May 2018|publisher=Drone Wars UK|location=Oxford|page=12}}
=Saegheh-1=
The Saegheh-1 was first presented at an Iranian arms expo in 2016.
Iranian state news claimed the Saegheh-1 could carry four Sadid-1 precision-guided anti-tank guided missiles. The Iranian Government did not provide a demonstration of the UAV flying, or state what its range was.{{cite news|last1=Sharafedin|first1=Bozorgmehr|title=Iran showcases new combat drone, copied from U.S. unmanned aircraft|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-military-drones-idUSKCN1213C2|access-date=2 October 2016|work=Reuters|date=1 October 2016}} The Saegheh-1 had no apparent targeting/optical system.
The first models of Saegheh lacked the frontal air intake of the Simorgh/RQ-170.
=Saegheh-2=
Later shown models have a frontal air intake, although it's likely that models with piston engines do not have a frontal intake. The UAV takes off from specialized racks, that are mounted on a vehicle speeding down a runway, and is recovered on a runway with retractable landing skids.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/JeremyBinnie/status/1110932257219452929|title=The jet-powered one, known to be the Shahed-191, carries weapons in internal bays and lands using retractable skids|first=Jeremy|last=Binnie|date=27 March 2019}} According to Tasnim News, the Shahed 191 is 60% of the size of the RQ-170.{{Cite web |title=اینفوگرافیک/ تولید مثل جانور قندهار در ایران- گرافیک و کاریکاتور اینفوگرافیک تسنیم {{!}} Tasnim |url=https://www.tasnimnews.com/fa/media/1399/09/18/2406153/%D8%A7%DB%8C%D9%86%D9%81%D9%88%DA%AF%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%81%DB%8C%DA%A9-%D8%AA%D9%88%D9%84%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D9%85%D8%AB%D9%84-%D8%AC%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%88%D8%B1-%D9%82%D9%86%D8%AF%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86 |access-date=2022-11-12 |website=خبرگزاری تسنیم {{!}} Tasnim |language=fa}}
The Shahed 191 carries two Sadid-1 missiles internally and lands on retractable landing skids. The Shahed 191 has a cruising speed of 300 km/h, an endurance of 4.5 hours, a range of 450 km, and a payload of 50 kg.{{cite web|url=https://prom1.livejournal.com/1839522.html|title=Иранский ударный БЛА "Shahed-191"|last=prom1|date=10 February 2019}} The ceiling is 25,000 ft. The wing span is 7.31 meters, the length 2.7 meters, the max takeoff weight 500 kg, and the max speed 350 km/h.
Fars News Agency says the Saegheh-2 has been used in combat in Syria, using missiles against the Islamic State terrorist organization.{{citation needed|date=March 2022}}
=Propeller-powered variant=
Operational history
File:Benjamin Netanyahu Drone 2018 (cropped).jpg presents part of a destroyed Saegheh drone at the Munich Security Conference 2018]]
On 1 October 2018, the IRGC Aerospace Force used ballistic missiles and drones, supposedly including Saegheh UAVs, to attack targets in the Abu Kamal region, in Eastern Syria.[https://www.armyrecognition.com/october_2018_global_defense_security_army_news_industry/iran_uses_drones_and_missiles_in_cross_border_attack_on_enemies_in_syria.html Iran uses drones and missiles in cross border attack on enemies in Syria], armyrecognition.com/, October 4, 2018. Although Iran had first shown the Saegheh with four Sadid-1 missiles slung under the body, in this incident they released video they said showed a Saegheh UAV releasing a single Sadid-1 bomb from its internal bomb bays.{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/for-a-second-time-iran-fires-missiles-at-is-targets-in-syria|title=For a Second Time, Iran Fires Missiles at IS Targets in Syria|website=www.washingtoninstitute.org}}
Israel shot down a Saegheh during the February 2018 Israel–Syria incident. The Times of Israel reported that the UAV's design was largely based on the captured RQ-170; IAF Brigadier General Tomer Bar said that the drone was quite advanced and imitated western technology.{{Cite news |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/iranian-uav-that-entered-israeli-airspace-seems-to-be-american-stealth-knock-off/ |title=Iranian UAV that entered Israeli airspace seems to be American stealth knock-off |last=Gross |first=Judah Ari |date=10 February 2018 |work=The Times of Israel |access-date=12 February 2018 |language=en-US}}
In July 2022, the United States claimed that Russian officials had travelled to Iran to 'examine' drones, including several labelled on satellite images as Shahed-191. At least one of these aircraft was pictured in flight near Kashan airfield. The report stated that the aircraft appeared to be 'attack-capable'.{{Cite news |title=White House says Russian officials visited Iran twice to examine drones |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/07/16/iran-russia-drones-ukraine-intelligence/ |access-date=2022-07-18 |issn=0190-8286}}
Specifications (Shahed 191)
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Tasnim News (2020) and Иранский ударный БЛА "Shahed-191" (2019)
|prime units?=met
|genhide=
|crew=none
|capacity=
|length m=2.7
|length ft=
|length in=
|span m=7.31
|span ft=
|span in=
|swept m=
|swept ft=
|swept in=
|height m=
|height ft=
|height in=
|wing area sqm=
|wing area sqft=
|wing area note=
|swept area sqm=
|swept area sqft=
|aspect ratio=
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=500
|gross weight lb=
|gross weight note=100 kg payload
|max takeoff weight kg=500
|fuel capacity=
|more general=
|eng1 number=
|eng1 name=
|eng1 type=
|eng1 kw=
|eng1 hp=
|eng1 shp=
|eng1 kn=
|eng1 lbf=
|power original=
|thrust original=
|eng1 kn-ab=
|eng1 lbf-ab=
|more power=
|prop blade number=
|prop name=
|prop dia m=
|prop dia ft=
|prop dia in=
|prop note=
|perfhide=
|max speed kmh=350
|max speed mph=
|max speed kts=
|max speed mach=
|cruise speed kmh=300
|cruise speed mph=
|cruise speed kts=
|never exceed speed kmh=
|never exceed speed mph=
|never exceed speed kts=
|range km=1500
|range miles=
|range nmi=
|combat range km=
|combat range miles=
|combat range nmi=
|endurance=4.5 h
|ceiling m=7620
|ceiling ft=
|g limits=
|roll rate=
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=
|lift to drag=
|wing loading kg/m2=
|wing loading lb/sqft=
|wing loading note=
|more performance=
|armament=
|guns=
|bombs=
|rockets=
|missiles=
|hardpoints=
|hardpoint capacity=
|hardpoint rockets=
|hardpoint missiles=
|hardpoint bombs=
|hardpoint other=
|avionics=
}}
=Armaments=
- Missiles: Sadid-1 missiles, Saegheh-1, and Saegheh-2{{cite web |last1=Nikolov |first1=Boyko |title=CIA's RQ-170 UAV could usher in a new series of Russian drones |url=https://bulgarianmilitary.com/2023/06/12/cias-rq-170-uav-could-usher-in-a-new-series-of-russian-drones/ |access-date=17 April 2024 |date=12 June 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Roblin |first1=Sebastien |title=Your Guide to Iran's Diverse Fleet of Combat Drones |url=https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/your-guide-iran%E2%80%99s-diverse-fleet-combat-drones-193654 |website=The National Interest |access-date=17 April 2024 |language=en |date=14 September 2021}}
Operators
See also
= Related development =
= Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era =
=Others=
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Shahed aircraft}}
{{Iran Military}}
{{Iranian Aircraft}}
{{Weapons of Iran}}
Category:Unmanned military aircraft of Iran
Category:Iranian military aircraft
Category:Aircraft manufactured in Iran
Category:Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force