Shahed 171 Simorgh

The Shahed 171 Simorgh (sometimes S-171) is an Iranian jet-powered flying wing reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) produced by Shahed Aviation Industries.[2]

Shahed 171 Simorgh
S-171
Role reconnaissance UAV
National origin Iran
Manufacturer Shahed Aviation Industries
First flight 2014[1]
Status Unknown
Primary user IRGC AF
Produced 2010s–present

It is a full-size copy of the American RQ-170 UAV captured by Iran.[2] It is one of two Iranian flying wing UAVs based on the RQ-170, along with the Saegheh, a smaller version, with which it is often confused.

Design

The Simorgh is an exact copy of the RQ-170, down to the landing gear and tires.[3] It seems to be built mostly out of fiberglass.[3] One researcher says the weight, engine, and endurance are inferior to the RQ-170.[4]

Iran claims it can be armed with munitions,[5] a claim which has been disputed by Western analysts.[3]

Status

Two were under construction as of 2014.[6] In 2014 Iran said that they would have four in service by March 2015.[7]

The UAV was first seen in May 2015 and was shown flying on Iranian TV in October 2016.[8] Jane's analysis placed the UAV at Kashan Air Base.[8][9]

There was no confirmed operational use of the Simorgh as of May 2018, and it was thought to have been abandoned.[10]

Some sources report that a Shahed 171 may have been shot down in the February 2018 Israel–Syria incident, but the UAV was probably the very similar Saegheh.[2]

Operators
 Iran

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

References
  1. Opall-Rome, Barbara (13 February 2018). "Israel Air Force says seized Iranian drone is a knockoff of US Sentinel".
  2. "Sentinels, Saeqehs and Simorghs: An Open Source Survey of Iran's New Drone in Syria". bellingcat. 13 February 2018.
  3. "Iranian Copy of U.S. Unmanned Stealth Aircraft is a Fake - USNI News". 12 May 2014.
  4. Ahmad, Naveed (2 June 2019). "The Advent of Drones: Iran's Weapon of Choice" (PDF). International Institute for Iranian Studies (Rasanah).
  5. "Farsnews". en.farsnews.com.
  6. http://www.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=13930222001585 (May 2014) (translation here)
  7. "Farsnews". en.farsnews.com.
  8. "Iranian 'stealth' UAV test site identified - IHS Jane's 360". 8 October 2016. Archived from the original on 8 October 2016.
  9. "Iran's Simorgh Test Site Identified". Offiziere.ch. 8 October 2016.
  10. Frew, Joanna (May 2018). "Drone Wars: The Next Generation: An overview of current operators of armed drones" (PDF). Oxford: Drone Wars UK. p. 12.


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