Shahed 149 Gaza
The Shahed 149 Gaza (Persian: پهپاد غزه) or (Persian: 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.
| Gaza (Shahed-149) | |
|---|---|
| Rear view of a Shahed 149 Gaza | |
| Role | Unmanned combat aerial vehicle |
| National origin | Iran |
| Manufacturer | HESA |
| Design group | Shahed Aviation Industries |
| Introduction | April 2022 |
| Status | Active |
| Primary user | Iran |
| Produced | 3 as of April 2022 |
| Developed from | Shahed 129 |
The Gaza drone is a high-altitude long-endurance UAV similar in size, shape and role to the American MQ-9 Reaper. It is a larger, heavier, and more capable aircraft than the earlier Shahed 129 which was similar to the MQ-1 Predator. It has a flight duration of 35 hours, a range of 2,000 km (1,200 miles), 21m wingspan, 350 km/h cruise 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.