Shahed 149 Gaza

The Shahed 149 Gaza (Persian: پهپاد غزه) or (Persian: شاهد ۱۴۹), 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. It was delivered to the IRGC Aerospace Force in 2022.
The Gaza drone is a high-altitude long-endurance UAV similar in size, shape and role to the American MQ-9 Reaper. It is a larger, heavier, and more capable aircraft than the earlier Shahed 129 which was similar to the MQ-1 Predator. 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. It is the first Iranian UAV powered by a turboprop engine.

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.
The drone was unveiled in May 2021.
The drone passed its flight tests in April 2022 and was accepted for service the same month.

Specifications #

Data from General characteristics

• Crew: none
• Capacity: 13 bombs and 500 kg of electronic equipment
• 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 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-25C, 750 hp
• 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

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