A Saegheh-2[1] variant at a defence exhibition in Tehran.
Role
Unmanned combat aerial vehicle
Type of aircraft
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
10 built, 50 planned (2019)[4]
Developed from
RQ-170 Sentinel
The Saegheh (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 by Iran in 2011 and then reverse-engineered.[5] It is one of two Iranian flying wing UAVs based on the RQ-170, along with the Shahed 171 Simorgh, a larger version.
The Saegheh was revealed in October 2016.[6]
The drones can carry two Sadid-1 missiles, externally for the Saegheh-1, and internally for the Saegheh-2.[7][8]
As of 2017, 10 Saegheh drones were in production, and Iran planned to procure at least 50 by 2025.[2]
^Jeremy Binnie (31 January 2019). "Iran unveils new version of armed stealth UAV - Jane's 360". www.janes.com. London. Archived from the original on 3 February 2019.
^"Pentagon claims Iran's copy of captured US Sentinel drone 'inferior' to original - World news - The Guardian". Theguardian.com. 4 December 2014. Archived from the original on 4 December 2014. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
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