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Saegheh (UAV)

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Saegheh
Saegheh (4)
A Saegheh-2[1] variant at a defence exhibition in Tehran.
Role Multirole UAV
National origin Iran
Manufacturer Shahed Aviation Industries[2]
First flight November 2014[3]
Introduction October 2016
Status In service
Primary user IRGC AF
Produced 2010s–present
Number built 50 (2019)[4]

The Saegheh-2 (English: "Thunderbolt") is an Iranian turbofan/piston-powered flying wing unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) produced by Shahed Aviation Industries.[2] It is based on, but smaller than and substantially different from, a Lockheed Martin RQ-170 Sentinel UAV that was captured and reverse-engineered by Iran.[5] It is one of two Iranian flying wing UAVs based on the RQ-170, along with the Shahed 171 Simorgh.

The Saegheh was revealed in October 2016.[6]

A number of sources have expressed doubt that the Seagheh is weapons-capable, and say it is solely an ISR platform.[7][8]

As of 2017, 10 Saegheh drones were in production, and Iran planned to procure at least 50 by 2025.[2]

Variants[]

The specifications for the Saegheh are unknown, but it is believed to have a wingspan around 6-7m.[9]

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.[10] The Saegheh-1 had no apparent targeting/optical system.[1]

The first models of Saegheh lacked the frontal air intake of the Simorgh/RQ-170.

Saegheh-2[]

This model is also known as the Shahed 191.[11] Later shown models have frontal air intake. The probability is that only piston engined models don't have frontal intakes. The UAV takes off from specialized racks mounted on a vehicle speeding down a runway (probably Toyota Hilux trucks) and is recovered on a runway with retractable landing skids.[12]

The Shahed 191 carries two Sadid-1 missiles internally and lands on retractable landing skids.[12] 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 50kg.[13] The ceiling is 25,000 ft.[14]

Fars News Agency says the Saegheh-2 has been used in combat in Syria.[1]

Propeller-powered variant[]

In wargames held in 2019 Iran showed a Saegheh variant powered by a propeller. It carries its Sadid-1 weapons externally and lands on fixed landing skids.[11] It takes off similarly to the Shahed 191 variant.[11]

Operational history[]

Benjamin Netanyahu Drone 2018 (cropped)

Benjamin Netanyahu 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.[15] 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.[16] Independent analysts were critical of the video.[17]

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.[18]

Operators[]

Flag of Iran Iran

Specifications[]

General characteristics

  • Crew: none

Performance

  • Endurance: unspecified

Related development[]

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era[]

References[]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Jeremy Binnie. "Iran unveils new version of armed stealth UAV - Jane's 360". London. https://www.janes.com/article/86085/iran-unveils-new-version-of-armed-stealth-uav. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Taghvaee, Babak (Jul 27, 2017). "Shahed 129 Heads Iran’s Armed UAV Force". http://aviationweek.com/defense/shahed-129-heads-iran-s-armed-uav-force. 
  3. ↑ "Pentagon claims Iran's copy of captured US Sentinel drone 'inferior' to original - World news - The Guardian". 4 December 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141204035857/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/nov/12/pentagon-iranian-copy-us-drone-inferior. Retrieved 7 October 2018. 
  4. ↑ Sputnik. "WATCH: Footage of Iranian Revolutionary Guard’s Massive Drone Exercise Released". https://sputniknews.com/military/201903151073250932-irgc-drone-drill-footage/. 
  5. ↑ "Iran builds attack drone similar to captured US model, local media say". 2 October 2016. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/01/iran-builds-thunderbolt-drone. Retrieved 2 October 2016. 
  6. ↑ Cenciotti, David (2 October 2016). "Iran unveils new UCAV modeled on captured U.S. RQ-170 stealth drone". https://theaviationist.com/2016/10/02/iran-unveils-new-ucav-modeled-on-captured-u-s-rq-170-stealth-drone/. 
  7. ↑ "IDF highlights Iranian presence in Syria - Jane's 360". https://www.janes.com/article/79430/idf-highlights-iranian-presence-in-syria. Retrieved 7 October 2018. 
  8. ↑ Taghvaee, Babak (27 June 2017). "Error: no |title= specified when using {{Cite web}}" (in Persian). Valletta, Malta: BBC Persian. http://www.bbc.com/persian/iran-40405835. 
  9. ↑ Frew, Joanna (May 2018). "Drone Wars: The Next Generation: An overview of current operators of armed drones". Oxford: Drone Wars UK. p. 12. https://dronewarsuk.files.wordpress.com/2018/05/dw-nextgeneration-web.pdf. 
  10. ↑ Sharafedin, Bozorgmehr (1 October 2016). "Iran showcases new combat drone, copied from U.S. unmanned aircraft". Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-military-drones-idUSKCN1213C2. Retrieved 2 October 2016. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Binnie, Jeremy (27 March 2019). "The propeller version carries weapons externally and lands on fixed bars, so not as stealthy". https://twitter.com/JeremyBinnie/status/1110932432776298502. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Binnie, Jeremy (27 March 2019). "The jet-powered one, known to be the Shahed-191, carries weapons in internal bays and lands using retractable skids". https://twitter.com/JeremyBinnie/status/1110932257219452929. 
  13. ↑ prom1 (10 February 2019). "Иранский ударный БЛА "Shahed-191"". https://prom1.livejournal.com/1839522.html. 
  14. ↑ Amir (7 February 2019). "New video from the defence exhibition, showing extended footage of the 2018 strike against ISIS. Opening/closing of bay, footage of city lights below and landing are shown. At the start service ceiling of the Shahed-191 is listed as 25,000 ft & 300 km/h is the cruise speed.". https://twitter.com/AmirThePersian1/status/1093446388946481152. 
  15. ↑ Iran uses drones and missiles in cross border attack on enemies in Syria, armyrecognition.com/, October 4, 2018.
  16. ↑ "For a Second Time, Iran Fires Missiles at IS Targets in Syria". https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/for-a-second-time-iran-fires-missiles-at-is-targets-in-syria. 
  17. ↑ Taghvaee, Babak (1 October 2018). "#BREAKING: Another cheap propaganda of #IRGC detected today. #IRGC claims that it has used 7 Saeghe drones to bomb #ISIL in #Syria. But as a matter of fact, Saeghe has No EO/IR/laser targeting system. Also #IRGC has No UCAV control center left in #Syria after #Israel airstrikes!". https://twitter.com/BabakTaghvaee/status/1046760616139124736. 
  18. ↑ Gross, Judah Ari (10 February 2018). "Iranian UAV that entered Israeli airspace seems to be American stealth knock-off" (in en-US). The Times of Israel. https://www.timesofisrael.com/iranian-uav-that-entered-israeli-airspace-seems-to-be-american-stealth-knock-off/. 
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