Above: video still of what appears to be a Shahed 171 scale prototype in test flight
Iran today released a composite of video clips on television news programming claiming to depict its Shahed 171 UAV in flight.
The Shaded-171 is based on an example of a Lockheed Martin RQ-170 Sentinel captured by Iran 04DEC11 near the city of Kashmar in northeastern Iran.
In comments published today at Fars News Agency, IRGC-ASF Commander Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh stated Iran plans to have four production-type Shahed 171 UAVs operational by the end of the Persian year. He also claimed the role of the Shahed 171 would include the capability of a bomber aircraft.
Whatever the claims, it's apparent Iran continues to devote resources into their reverse-designed RQ-170 type UAV program; whether for promotional usage or actual operational applications is yet to be discerned from this observer's standpoint.
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