At the DIMDEX 2024 expo, currently being held from March 4th to 6th, Iran marked a noticeable presence among defense exhibitors in the Middle East. With a substantial stand in Qatar, Iran showcased a wide array of armaments, including the Shahed-149 Gaza drone.
This unmanned aerial vehicle, first unveiled in 2021, stands out among the innovations presented, highlighting Iran’s technological advancement and armament production capability.
The Shahed 149 Gaza, an Iranian combat drone operated by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, was officially introduced on May 21, 2021, and delivered to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force in 2022. Comparable in size and function to the American MQ-9 Reaper, this UAV is classified as a high-altitude, long-endurance vehicle, developed from the Shahed 129. It has a wingspan of 21 meters, a length of 10 meters, and a height of 4 meters. The basic UAV weight, with fuel tanks empty, is 1740 kg, with a takeoff weight of 3740 kg. Its maximum fuel capacity is 1500 kg, with a payload weight of 500 kg. The Gaza is powered by a turboprop engine with 750 horsepower, achieving a maximum speed of 350 km/h and a cruise speed of 215 km/h. It has a maximum flight endurance of 25 hours and can reach a height of 35,000 feet.
In terms of armament capabilities, the Shahed 149 Gaza can carry 13 bombs and up to 500 kg of electronic equipment, thanks to an internal atrium and a rotating arm release device.
The drone was first mentioned on Twitter by a defense reporter for Tasnim News on February 23, 2020. Its official unveiling occurred in May 2021, and it completed its flight tests in April 2022 before being accepted for service.
The Gaza drone’s avionics suite includes electro-optical/infrared sensors, a day-vision camera with significant zoom capabilities, a thermal imager camera, a laser rangefinder, and environmental monitoring within a 500 km radius. It would have the capability to detect stealth aircraft up to a 500 km radius and would be equipped with a satellite communication antenna.
Source: Army Recognition