Still need proof this is a full size Simorgh (1-1 RQ-170 copy).
To build such a drone and have it carry two tiny optically guided PGM is a waste of resources. A highly advanced recon/EW/SIGNIT version makes sense, this does not.
Both Reaper and Heron severely outclass Simorgh in payload. Not that I would expect a internal to match an external payload class drone, but the difference is an ocean.
Until Simorgh can carry two at least two 500lb PGM or 4 250LB PGM, it’s not a viable strike platform.
Many here might not agree with me, but a supersonic large flying wing design UAV with advanced radar and EW capabilities is the ultimate answer alongside these smaller “swarm” drones.
Imagine a flying wing design with 3000+KM range (1st gen) that can carry a payload of 3000-5000KG. Upon entering contested airspace it would activate its EW package and strive to jam and disrupt radars while releasing its payload from 250KM out and then going supersonic (afterburner) out of the battlefield.
That’s a game changer.
Simorgh armed version is not. I don’t even know a real battlefield use vs a competent adversary. If your talking terrorists than Shahed-129 can do that at a cheaper cost. Against a competent adversary, the tiny payload of simorgh makes it more of a assassination/High value target drone than anything that can do severe battlefield damage.
You must realize the amounts of ordnance the US dropped to prevent ISIS from taking Kobane in Syria. Or even the amount of 500KG to 1000KG SVIED that ISIS used in their offensives. We are taking massive amounts of payloads to change a small front in an overall large battlefield.
Saeghe makes sense in grand scheme of things (Iranian philosophy). but let’s make one thing clear. Israel easily detected this upon it entering Golan heights, yet somehow Iran couldn’t detect an Unknown non stealth drone till it was well inside Iran and reaching a major nuclear site. (They claim they knew the whole time, but who really knows).
So again forcing Saeghe to use optical guided munitions vs glide standoff munitions will make it always exposed.
Lastly, to reiterate the Simorgh (armed) version is really just a nice fancy toy. But no real improvements over Simorgh (recon) version.
Furthermore, Iran really needs to advance on to radar absorbing skins and paint composites. The larger RQ-170 variants are exposed without them.
It is not a full sized Simorgh, otherwise they would have to build a 100% double size Sadid for scales to make any sense.
It all comes down how much value you give to stealth and EW.
Americans give both very much value others not so much.
This means a RQ-170 is not given that much value against an advanced enemy.
Iran hunted it down for the best we know, the Skunk works super original variant of it.
-Today we see Resonanz series long range VHF-band radars in the UAE.
-Radars that are much more robust against EW due to high processing power and PESA/AESA arrays.
-We see ELINT DF systems that can triangulate any source of EW from extended ranges.
-Long range SAM systems are slowly appearing that would instantly attack those EW sources from extended ranges.
-We now have passive thermal imagers that can precisely and cost effectively determine 3D coordinates at good ranges.
A supersonic Simorgh would be instantly detected if it applies EW. You need something trying to do that from a stand-off position and able to defend itself if attacked, not the Simorgh itself.
A supersonic escape capability would be useful that's sure.
In total: Simorgh/RQ-170 works only against an advanced enemy which capabilities have already been degraded by real "superweapons" --> precision guided ballistic missiles, or against second class enemies.
But an expandable concept of it could be effective if cheap and numerous enough --> Saeghe.
A full size reconnaissance variant of it that identifies targets from stand-off ranges like 200km away from the enemy would make sense.
The Simorgh is thus not a superweapon that needs to be mastered and invested upon as much as possible. Same as you will never see the billion B-2 over Tehran anytime soon in a conflict, you won't see the Simorgh striking high priority targets of an advanced enemy at will. That's the task of ballistic missiles, even CM's won't be survivable enough for this role.
Degrading enemy capabilities and start using Simorgh bombers from the enemies periphery and slowly winning the battle. Of course only if the enemy is not Iran-like an starts to kill you from it's protected central regions due to long range weapons.
So to conclude finally: Your idea of a high capability Simorgh bomber fleet is flawed and not worth the investments necessary. It will never beat ballistic missiles in effectiveness with the spread of counter-stealth assets.
A cost effective concept that can tackle the already degraded capability enemy makes best sense. And once it is degraded enough S-129 like drones will do the job as you said correctly.
