Shahed 129
The Shahed 129 (Persian: شاهد ۱۲۹, English: "witness"; 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). 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 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) |
| National origin | Iran |
| Manufacturer | Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industries Corporation (HESA) |
| Designer | Shahed Aviation Industries Research Center |
| First flight | Spring 2012 |
| Introduction | September 2013 |
| Status | In service, in production |
| Primary user | Iran |
| Produced | 2012–present |
| Number built | +42 |
| Developed from | Shahed 123 |
| Developed into | Shahed 149 Gaza |
The UAV has been used for airstrikes in the Syrian Civil War and for border patrol on Iran's eastern border. 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.
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