Videos

Watch: Iran unveils a their latest UAV, modeled after the U.S. UAV that crashed in 2011

In the video below, Iranian Press TV reveals the latest Iranian “domestically” produced stealth UAV. Their pro-Iranian political analyst, who is based in London, states that America should realize that Iran is a “force to be reckoned with.” He insisted that the new UAV was manufactured to show the pro-American media and world that they can accomplish great things without the help of the West. He then asserts that if Sunni countries had “half a brain” they would no longer rely on America but turn to Iran for support.

Being Iranian propaganda, they did fail to mention their reverse engineering and information gathered from US drones. In particular, it appears to be modeled after the RQ-170, which was lost while on mission in Afghanistan near the Iranian border in 2011. Additionally, the drone’s components may have been influenced by two RQ-11 Ravens and a ScanEagle.

You've reached your daily free article limit.

Subscribe and support our veteran writing staff to continue reading.

Get Full Ad-Free Access For Just $0.50/Week

Enjoy unlimited digital access to our Military Culture, Defense, and Foreign Policy coverage content and support a veteran owned business. Already a subscriber?

In the video below, Iranian Press TV reveals the latest Iranian “domestically” produced stealth UAV. Their pro-Iranian political analyst, who is based in London, states that America should realize that Iran is a “force to be reckoned with.” He insisted that the new UAV was manufactured to show the pro-American media and world that they can accomplish great things without the help of the West. He then asserts that if Sunni countries had “half a brain” they would no longer rely on America but turn to Iran for support.

Being Iranian propaganda, they did fail to mention their reverse engineering and information gathered from US drones. In particular, it appears to be modeled after the RQ-170, which was lost while on mission in Afghanistan near the Iranian border in 2011. Additionally, the drone’s components may have been influenced by two RQ-11 Ravens and a ScanEagle.

Screenshot of the Iranian video of the RQ-170 drone

So, it looks like the Iranians have not only copied the RQ-170, but they have also developed something new based on the captured “Beast of Kandahar” whose crash landing in Iran remains a mystery. A sensibly smaller drone that retains the same wing shape as the Sentinel but lacks the frontal air intake of the Lockheed Martin’s stealth drone.

Moreover it’s not clear where does the landing gear (if any) comes out from.

Iran has hunted/recovered two more UAV types since 2011: two RQ-11s and at least one ScanEagle that had penetrated the Iranian airspace from the Persian Gulf.- The Aviationist 

While the reverse engineering of the RQ-170 has been known for some time, the Press News video is entertaining to watch based on its originality slant.

Image courtesy of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards via AP

About Desiree Huitt View All Posts

Desiree Huitt is an Army Veteran serving 11 years as a Military Intelligence officer and prior to OCS as a combat medic. She is a graduate from the University of Texas in Austin with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Middle Eastern Studies.

COMMENTS

You must become a subscriber or login to view or post comments on this article.

More from SOFREP

REAL EXPERTS.
REAL NEWS.

Join SOFREP for insider access and analysis.

TRY 14 DAYS FREE

Already a subscriber? Log In