Shahed 129
Iranian unmanned aerial vehicle / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Shahed 129 (Persian: شاهد ۱۲۹, English: "witness";[5] sometimes S129) is an Iranian single-engine medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) designed by Shahed Aviation Industries for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).[6] The Shahed 129 is capable of combat and reconnaissance missions and has an endurance of 24 hours; it is similar in size, shape and role to the American MQ-1 Predator[7] and is widely considered as one of the most capable drones in Iranian service.
Shahed 129 | |
---|---|
The second generation Shahed 129. | |
Role | Combat / Intelligence / Surveillance / Reconnaissance (CISR)[1] |
National origin | Iran |
Manufacturer | Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industries Corporation (HESA)[2] |
Designer | Shahed Aviation Industries Research Center[3] |
First flight | Spring 2012[3] |
Introduction | September 2013 |
Status | In service, in production |
Primary user | Iran |
Produced | 2012–present |
Number built | +42[3] |
Developed from | Shahed 123[3] |
Developed into | Shahed 149 Gaza[4] |
The UAV has been used for airstrikes in the Syrian Civil War and for border patrol on Iran's eastern border.[3] As of 2017 the Shahed 129 and Saegheh are expected to form the backbone of Iran's high-end UAV fleet for at least the next decade.[3]