Iran releases video of Shahed 171 UAV in flight

 

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.

 VIDEO:

Iran’s Sadegh-1 UCAV armed with air-to-air missiles

During this year's Sacred Defense Week, Iran publicly unveiled the Sadegh-1 ("Allegiant-1") unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV).

In appearance and layout, Sadegh-1 is similar to the proven, reliable Mohajer-4 ("Migrant-4") reconnaissance UAV, suggesting manufacture by Ghods Aviation Industry.

Armament consists of adapted Misagh ("Covenant") type MANPADS for use in the air-to-air role. Missiles are seen attached under the wings at two hardpoints. Manufacturing of adapted missile system presumed undertaken by Shahid Shah Abhady Industrial Complex.

For specific types of air-to-air encounters, this Iranian UCAV type might be seen as a very low cost solution of sorts, in terms of cost to manufacture, operate and potentially lose due to attrition or hostile fire.

More suiting, perhaps, this specification appears to offer a solution for allied fighting forces in southern Lebanon (possibly even southwest Palestine); forces that have persistently lacked air-to-air fighter capability. Iranian-type UAVs have been deployed in these theaters with varying levels of success, thus a comparatively low cost system represented by the Sadegh might be considered the next logical step, particularly against hostile rotary-wing aircraft.

 

VIDEO:

Photos: Fars News Agency

Iranian Shahed 129 performing reconnaissance over Adra, Syria

 

Another video has materialized depicting an Iranian-manufactured Iranian Shahed 129 ("Eye-Witness") Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), this time performing a reconnaissance mission over Adra, Syria, positioned approximately 40 km northeast of Damascus.

Video, date of upload o8JUL14:

A previous video from 10APR14 depicted Shahed 129 performing reconnaissance mission over Eastern Ghouta, Damascus.

File photo of Shahed 129 types configured as Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV)

File image detail of IRGC-AF Shahed 129 prototype, serial 129-001

Pahpad AB-3 UAV powerplant

This post is intended as a technical supplement to Galen Wright's excellent post on UAVs Over Syria at Open Source IMINT.

Below is photo of AB-3 captured in Damascus on 06/12/13 (via Liwa al-Islam):

Powerplant appears to be Limbach L 550 type four-cylinder, horizontally opposed, air cooled, two-cycle engine; likely Chinese-sourced, possibly assembled in Iran. Note top-mounted abbreviated exhaust "stacks" and bottom-mounted fuel preparation system fitted with air intake "stacks." Generator mounted atop crankcase.

Below is photo provided for Chinese-sourced MD550:

Above motor inverted in relation to UAV airframe installation of similar powerplant seen in captured AB-3. Specifications, click HERE.

Below is photo provided for Iranian MADO MD-550 (Limbach L 550 E factory photo)

Above motor also inverted in relation to UAV airframe installation, sans optional cylinder "heat sinks,"with shown solid-state magneto units. Specifications, click HERE.

Iranian Fotros UAV Missing Two Screws

Photo Source: IRNA

By: Jabbar Fazeli, MD

Iran unveiled its latest Wunderwaffe, the "FOTROS"  long range UAV this week (1). 

I'm sure I'm not the only noticing, but this high tech UAV seems to be missing two screws as shown in the above photos. I assume they are not there by design, or to house two tiny hidden cameras.

One would think that as they put this toy together,  they would have had a mechanism for quality control. Even though this media project was probably rushed ahead of this week's nuclear talks in Geneva, there is no excuse for this level of incompetence, and for making Iran the laughingstock of the world. 

As to the general effectiveness of Iranian UAVs, the proof, as they say, is in the pudding. It is no secret that the IRGC is actively engaged in the Syrian civil war, yet the coverage of that war shows no evidence of active use of Iranian UAVs. 

Case in point, the IRGC commander Esmail Heydari was filmed by a documentary film crew walking into a rebel ambush in August of 2013 (2). I'm sure he would have appreciated having a UAV handy to scout ahead; a basic Iranian made UAV, with German spare parts, would have been sufficient to the job. Just like the Iranian made SAMs are no where to be found as the Israeli air force strikes Syrian targets at will.

References:

(1)http://www.uskowioniran.com/2013/11/fotros-ucav-irans-strategic-drone.html

(2)http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gvhU113mVpw&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DgvhU113mVpw

Fotros UCAV, Iran's 'strategic' drone

Iran today publicly unveiled its Fotros "strategic drone," days before the next round of nuclear negotiations with P5+1

Fotros UCAV is claimed to possess a projected operational radius of 2,000 kilometers, service ceiling of 25,000 feet and 16 to 30 hour endurance.

Rear section of Fotros UCAV exhibiting twin booms and central nacelle design, two-bladed propeller and powerplant's maintenance covers; this example thought to be a prototype.

Front section of Fotros UCAV. 

Frontal overhead view providing sense of scale to Iran's largest unmanned aerial vehicle

Side section exhibiting fitted armament of two Hellfire appearing air-to-surface missiles

View exhibiting presumed antenna dome and ball-mounted camera sensor array

Public unveiling by MODAFL, IRIAA and IRIAF. Iran's Minister of Defense Dehghan (center) stated scientists at Iranian Aircraft Manufacturing Industries, affiliated to Iran's Defense Ministry, have designed and developed the Fotros UCAV. Dehghan identified intended Fotros missions to include “protecting land and sea borders, monitoring oil pipelines, telecommunication lines and road traffic control, monitoring affected areas during earthquakes, blaze and floods, and environment protection." [Source: FARS] The minister appears to have neglected to identify potential offensive operations or deterrent capability, generally considered "strategic" by Iran's military.

Iran TV video still  of unmarked Fotros UCAV, providing underside view

Iran TV video still of Fotros UCAV taxiing, prior to takeoff

  

Iran TV video still of Fotros UCAV in flight

Video

Photos: IRNA

Video: IRIB NEWS

IRGC gifts Russian Air Force a reverse-engineered Scan Eagle UAV

 

IRGC-ASF Commander Hajizadeh presenting Russian Air Force Commander Bondarev with Sayeh UAV 

(photo: Sepah News) 

According to PressTV:

A senior Iranian commander says Iran gave Russia one of its indigenous ScanEagle unmanned aerial vehicles as a sign of friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

Commander of the Aerospace Division of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Brigadier General Amirali Hajizadeh presented the drone to the visiting Russian Air Force Commander-in-Chief, Lieutenant General Viktor Nikolaevich Bondarev, on Monday.

“The ScanEagle drone produced by the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps is the symbol of some of Iran’s technical capabilities,” Hajizadeh said.

While the current executive branch of Iran's government has recently engaged in attempts to charm the West, it now appears the IRGC is on a charm mission of its own but with the Russian military.

This presentation to the Russians provides a demonstration of confidence in Iranian abilities at reverse engineering and manufacturing.

Below: recent Iran TV still of Iranian serial production of reverse-engineered Scan Eagles (Sayeh UAV)

Ra'ad-85 UAV/PGM killer drone

Ra'ad-85 UAV/PGM killer drone, reportedly in production

Ra’ad-85 reportedly capable of being fitted with different type PGMs dependent on mission targetting, with claimed range of 100 km.

Size perspective seen here, beside IRIA-GF Commander Brigadier General Ahmad-Reza Pourdastan

Interior of support vehicle for Ra'ad-85 UAV/PGM killer drones

Detail of Raa'd-85 interchangeable PGM element 

 Video:

Photos: Armin Karami at FARS News Agency, Amir Pourmand at ISNA, IRNA

IRGC Shahed-129 and IRIA Yasir UAVs

IRGC-AF Shahed-129 UCAV

 

Recent public unveiling of Shahed-129 UCAV variant

IRGC-AF Shahed-129 appears similar in size to U.S. MQ-1 Predator

Shahed-129 UCAV appears with a variety of AGMs, these examples fitted on hard points

Shahed-129 sensor ball detail, providing UCAV as a multi-sensor platform

Shahed-129 retractable undercarriage detail

Side view of Shahed-129 with further examples of air-to-ground weaponry. Propeller and spinner appear similar to Parastou-14.

Video still of armed IRGC-AF UCAV in flight

Aircraft type: Shahed-129 UCAV
Operator: IRGC-AF
Operational radius: 1700 km (claimed)
Endurance: 24 hr (claimed)
Service ceiling: 24,000 ft (claimed)
Armament: 8 AGMs or GBUs

Potential deployments: anti-drug operations on Iran eastern border, counter-terror operations in northwest and southeast Iran; potentially exported to allied military forces in Syria, southern Lebanon and (less likely) west Palestine.

Video:

IRIA Yasir UAV

IRIA ground force recently publicized delivery of Yasir UAV

IRIA Yasir UAV on wheeled catapult launcher ramp

Side view of Yasir UAV. Note inward canting tail surfaces inspired by AAI RQ-7 Shadow.

IRIAA captains, possibly Yasir UAV operator/trainers

Aircraft type: Yasir UAV
Operator: IRIA Ground Force
Operational radius: 200 km (claimed)
Endurance: 8 hr (claimed)
Service Ceiling: 15,000 ft (claimed)

Application: Tactical reconnaissance UAV for army ground forces

Video:

Photos: Armin Karami at FARS News Agency, Meghdad Madadi
Video Stills: IRINN
Videos: IRIB News, IRINN

Iran TV documentary on capture of RQ-170 Sentinel (Persian) - Video

 

To see the Iranian TV documentary on the capture of a U.S. RQ-170 Sentinel UAV (in Persian) click the above image or click HERE.

Television documentary was originally broadcast on Iranian TV roughly two weeks ago.

Iran Air Force F-4 encounter with U.S. Military MQ-1 Predator

 

File photo: IRIAF RF-4E Phantom II

Reported by the Associated Press:

An Iranian fighter jet approached a U.S. surveillance drone over the Persian Gulf but broke off its pursuit after the pilot of a U.S. escort plane radioed a verbal warning, the Pentagon said Thursday.

Pentagon press secretary George Little said the incident occurred Tuesday and that the unarmed MQ-1 Predator surveillance drone as well as two U.S. military escort planes remained over international waters at all times.

Little said the drone was conducting a "routine classified" surveillance mission.

He said the Iranian F-4 plane came as close as 16 miles to the drone before it departed.

Being a solo IRIAF Phantom, it's possible the aircraft may have been an RF-4E that encountered the USAF (or CIA) MQ-1 Predator, with both types involved in information gathering (provided the Pentagon report is accurate). Another possibility is the solo Iranian aircraft may have been an F-4E "Sharks of Bushehr" from TFB 6, possibly on a training mission. Impossible to say with any certainty given the very limited information available.

Iran's previous capture of a RQ-170 and ScanEagle, as well as a previous IRGC-AF intercept of a U.S. military MQ-1 demonstrates a heightened vigilance on the part of the Iranians in defending their airspace against adversarial UAV incursions. Likewise it appears the U.S. military is now providing fighter escorts for their MQ-1s over the Persian Gulf.

File photo: armed MQ-1 Predator

Top photo: Babak at Airliners.net
Bottom photo: United States Air Force

Two Charged In Germany For Smuggling UAV Engines To Iran

By: Jabbar Fazeli, MD

The German federal prosecutors charged an Iranian and a Iranian-German for smuggling UAV engines to Iran.

The engines were for the wildly used Iranian Ababil III UAVs; the downed Iranian UAV over Iraq in 2009 is believed to be of this type and model.

"The Ababil III is believed to have a maximum range of about 145 kilometers (90 miles) and can fly up to 4,300 meters (14,000 feet) high. It is primarily designed for surveillance and intelligence-gathering, although German prosecutors said it can also be used as an attack drone."(1)

This story brings into light the Iranian dependence on the outside world for critical components of military equipment.

They can make tanks, but they can't build reliable Iranian made tank engines.

They can make UAVs, but they need to have them fitted with smuggled German engines.

Iranian industry has been plagued by such "built in dependence" since the first Paykan was built in Iran based on a British design. Everything in the Paykan was Iranian except that engine.

References:

(1) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/20/iran-drone-smuggling-germany_n_2724014.html?

Great Prophet 7 Maneuvers (2)

Khalij-e Fârs ("Persian Gulf") anti-ship ballistic missile

Khalij-e Fârs ("Persian Gulf") anti-ship ballistic missile

Simulated SSM strikes on mock target

Pahpad-1 ("Seeker-1") UAV

Mohajer-4 UAV launches

Iranian manufactured UAV (1)

Iranian manufactured UAV (2)

Iranian manufactured UAV (3)

Iranian manufactured UAV (4)

UAV control center

Videos






IRINN video stills by Aspahbod and Maydayfire at IMF 

Video: Press TV