Shahed 171 Simorgh
The Shahed 171 Simorgh (sometimes S-171) is an Iranian jet-powered flying wing reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) produced by Shahed Aviation Industries.[2]
Shahed 171 Simorgh | |
---|---|
S-171 | |
Role | reconnaissance UAV |
National origin | Iran |
Manufacturer | Shahed Aviation Industries |
First flight | 2014[1] |
Status | Unknown |
Primary user | IRGC AF |
Produced | 2010s–present |
It is a full-size copy of the American RQ-170 UAV captured by Iran.[2] It is one of two Iranian flying wing UAVs based on the RQ-170, along with the Saegheh, a smaller version, with which it is often confused.
Design
The Simorgh is an exact copy of the RQ-170, down to the landing gear and tires.[3] It seems to be built mostly out of fiberglass.[3] One researcher says the weight, engine, and endurance are inferior to the RQ-170.[4]
Iran claims it can be armed with munitions,[5] a claim which has been disputed by Western analysts.[3]
Status
Two were under construction as of 2014.[6] In 2014 Iran said that they would have four in service by March 2015.[7]
The UAV was first seen in May 2015 and was shown flying on Iranian TV in October 2016.[8] Jane's analysis placed the UAV at Kashan Air Base.[8][9]
There was no confirmed operational use of the Simorgh as of May 2018, and it was thought to have been abandoned.[10]
Some sources report that a Shahed 171 may have been shot down in the February 2018 Israel–Syria incident, but the UAV was probably the very similar Saegheh.[2]
See also
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
- Northrop Grumman RQ-180
- Mikoyan Skat
- Sukhoi Okhotnik
- Northrop Grumman Bat
References
- Opall-Rome, Barbara (13 February 2018). "Israel Air Force says seized Iranian drone is a knockoff of US Sentinel".
- "Sentinels, Saeqehs and Simorghs: An Open Source Survey of Iran's New Drone in Syria". bellingcat. 13 February 2018.
- "Iranian Copy of U.S. Unmanned Stealth Aircraft is a Fake - USNI News". 12 May 2014.
- Ahmad, Naveed (2 June 2019). "The Advent of Drones: Iran's Weapon of Choice" (PDF). International Institute for Iranian Studies (Rasanah).
- "Farsnews". en.farsnews.com.
- http://www.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=13930222001585 (May 2014) (translation here)
- "Farsnews". en.farsnews.com.
- "Iranian 'stealth' UAV test site identified - IHS Jane's 360". 8 October 2016. Archived from the original on 8 October 2016.
- "Iran's Simorgh Test Site Identified". Offiziere.ch. 8 October 2016.
- Frew, Joanna (May 2018). "Drone Wars: The Next Generation: An overview of current operators of armed drones" (PDF). Oxford: Drone Wars UK. p. 12.