Iran has unveiled a massive, heavy-duty drone with a 22-meter (72-foot) wingspan, reportedly capable of flying up to 4,000 kilometers (2,485 miles).
The Shahed-149, also known as “Gaza” in reference to the war-torn Gaza Strip, was revealed by the Aerospace Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) during the recent “Great Prophet Authority” military exercise.
The drone has a takeoff weight of 3,100 kilograms (6,834 pounds) and can reach speeds of up to 350 kilometers (217 miles) per hour.
It can also allegedly stay airborne for up to 35 hours at altitudes exceeding 10,500 meters (34,448 feet).
Once deployed, the Shahed-149 is expected to strengthen Tehran’s border operations and bolster national security.
13 Bombs
One of the notable features of the Gaza drone is its payload capacity of 500 kilograms (1,102 pounds), allowing it to carry up to 13 Sadid-345 precision-guided glide bombs on a single mission.
It can reportedly conduct highly accurate strikes within a 1,000-kilometer (621-mile) radius.
During the military exercise, the platform was successfully tested, taking out eight mock enemy targets.
In addition to combat missions, the Gaza drone is also capable of supporting surveillance, reconnaissance, and logistics operations.
Some analysts suggest that with its range and endurance, the new unmanned aerial system could potentially reach Israel and return to Iran without significant challenges.
