Shahed 149 Gaza
| Shahed 149 Gaza | |
|---|---|
| Rear view of a Shahed 149 Gaza | |
| General information | |
| Type | Unmanned combat aerial vehicle |
| National origin | Iran |
| Manufacturer | HESA |
| Designer | Shahed Aviation Industries |
| Status | Active |
| Primary user | Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps |
| History | |
| Manufactured | 3 as of April 2022 |
| Introduction date | April 2022 |
| Developed from | Shahed 129 |
The Shahed 149 Gaza (Persian: پهپاد غزه or 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 appearance and role to the American MQ-9 Reaper. It is larger and heavier than the earlier Shahed 129 and claimed to be more capable than its predecessor, which was similar to the MQ-1 Predator. It has a flight duration of 24 hours, a maximum operating radius of 2,500 km (1,562 miles), 21 m wingspan, 340 km/h maximum 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.