Iranian UAV's get upgrade to switch from ground guidance to satellite guidance

[Aspen]

Shahed 129

Iran’s drone program operates a variety of Unmanned Arial Vehicles (UAVs). The backbone of their UAV program is the Shahed 129, a large-sized armed drone, visually similar to the American General Atomics MQ-1 Predator, though the Predator is a vastly more capable platform.


While the earlier (presumable first-generation) Shahed 129s had a thinner, more pencil-shaped fuselage, the newer models have a distinctly Predator-like nose bulge, presumably to accommodate a synthetic-aperture radar antenna, a higher-resolution radar system, or perhaps a link for satellite-based navigation.


The early-model Shahed 129s (and possibly the newer models as well) were limited not so much by fuel capacity as by their data-link capacity.

The United States’ MQ-1 Predators can be operated from virtually anywhere in the world, while the Shahed 129 is reliant on a ground operator. If true, dependence on a ground-based controller would likely limit the Shahed 129’s range to 200-400 kilometers (125-250 miles).


Pit Stop

In 2015, a Shahed 129 crashed near the Iran-Pakistan border. This early-model Shahed may have flown outside of the ground-based controller’s range or run out of fuel. Photos of the downed drone showed what appeared to be two or possibly four hardpoints for bombs and/or missile attachment.

Although Iranian drones have usually taken an observational role, rather than a direct-action stance, Iranian drone capabilities have slowly been shifting towards an offensive ground attack role.

Armed and Dangerous

Iran’s drones have been wreaking havoc in the Middle East. This video shows a Shahed 129 taking off and retracting its landing gear.
Back in February of 2016, an Iranian drone, presumably a Shahed 129, was seen with what appeared to be a missile similar to what has been seen in Iranian state media.
Several Shahed 129s made an appearance in Syria’s civil war again in 2017, two of which were shot down by American F-15Es. One of the drones was apparently able to drop ordinance on or near Syrian fighters before it was shot down.

Going Global?

In 2016, an Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Air Force commander implied that Iran was in the process of upgrading its drone fleet in order to end its reliance on ground-based controllers towards a satellite-based system. This may be the reason for the nose bulges seen in the newer model Shahad 129s.
If claims about GPS-navigable Shahed 129s are credible, then Iran presumably has the ability to use GPS navigation in tandem with other weapons systems, namely ballistic weapons.
If true, this lessens the technological military advantage of both regional adversaries (Israel) and those of the United States. This tech could be exported to Iran’s regional allies like Hezbollah in Lebanon, Yemen, or indeed to Syria, where this has presumably already happened.

Shahed 129: This 'Iranian' Drone Could Be Getting a Deadly Upgrade

If claims about GPS-navigable Shahed 129s are credible, then Iran presumably has the ability to use GPS navigation in tandem with other weapons systems, namely ballistic weapons.

nationalinterest.org

 

[Stryker1982]

Shahed 129

Iran’s drone program operates a variety of Unmanned Arial Vehicles (UAVs). The backbone of their UAV program is the Shahed 129, a large-sized armed drone, visually similar to the American General Atomics MQ-1 Predator, though the Predator is a vastly more capable platform.


While the earlier (presumable first-generation) Shahed 129s had a thinner, more pencil-shaped fuselage, the newer models have a distinctly Predator-like nose bulge, presumably to accommodate a synthetic-aperture radar antenna, a higher-resolution radar system, or perhaps a link for satellite-based navigation.


The early-model Shahed 129s (and possibly the newer models as well) were limited not so much by fuel capacity as by their data-link capacity.

The United States’ MQ-1 Predators can be operated from virtually anywhere in the world, while the Shahed 129 is reliant on a ground operator. If true, dependence on a ground-based controller would likely limit the Shahed 129’s range to 200-400 kilometers (125-250 miles).


Pit Stop

In 2015, a Shahed 129 crashed near the Iran-Pakistan border. This early-model Shahed may have flown outside of the ground-based controller’s range or run out of fuel. Photos of the downed drone showed what appeared to be two or possibly four hardpoints for bombs and/or missile attachment.

Although Iranian drones have usually taken an observational role, rather than a direct-action stance, Iranian drone capabilities have slowly been shifting towards an offensive ground attack role.

Armed and Dangerous

Iran’s drones have been wreaking havoc in the Middle East. This video shows a Shahed 129 taking off and retracting its landing gear.
Back in February of 2016, an Iranian drone, presumably a Shahed 129, was seen with what appeared to be a missile similar to what has been seen in Iranian state media.
Several Shahed 129s made an appearance in Syria’s civil war again in 2017, two of which were shot down by American F-15Es. One of the drones was apparently able to drop ordinance on or near Syrian fighters before it was shot down.

Going Global?

In 2016, an Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Air Force commander implied that Iran was in the process of upgrading its drone fleet in order to end its reliance on ground-based controllers towards a satellite-based system. This may be the reason for the nose bulges seen in the newer model Shahad 129s.
If claims about GPS-navigable Shahed 129s are credible, then Iran presumably has the ability to use GPS navigation in tandem with other weapons systems, namely ballistic weapons.
If true, this lessens the technological military advantage of both regional adversaries (Israel) and those of the United States. This tech could be exported to Iran’s regional allies like Hezbollah in Lebanon, Yemen, or indeed to Syria, where this has presumably already happened.

Shahed 129: This 'Iranian' Drone Could Be Getting a Deadly Upgrade

If claims about GPS-navigable Shahed 129s are credible, then Iran presumably has the ability to use GPS navigation in tandem with other weapons systems, namely ballistic weapons.

nationalinterest.org

Interesting that they are talking about the "buldges" on the head of the drone. Indeed, the new versions are modified slightly compared to flat headed previous versions.

If I remember right, we've had S-171s take off directly from Iran into Syria a few years ago, so this capability may have been around for a while, but not explicitly employed on the S-129 by that time.

 

[WudangMaster]

If I remember right, we've had S-171s take off directly from Iran into Syria a few years ago, so this capability may have been around for a while, but not explicitly employed on the S-129 by that time.

I thin relay drones were also used to carry the signals as a stop gap until sat comm became available.

 

[TheImmortal]

Using GPS/GLNSS/Bediou during peace time isn’t a problem. The issue is relying on them during a major conflict if any of the above parties (US, Russia, China) make a concerted effort to block Iranian military from accessing their satellites.

 

[Aspen]

Interesting that they are talking about the "buldges" on the head of the drone. Indeed, the new versions are modified slightly compared to flat headed previous versions.

If I remember right, we've had S-171s take off directly from Iran into Syria a few years ago, so this capability may have been around for a while, but not explicitly employed on the S-129 by that time.

Yeah I saw a picture on Amir's Twitter some time back, I was wondering at that time if that semi-spherical pod on Kaman-22 was possibly related to new satellite guidance.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1364532836062101507

 

[Muhammed45]

Using GPS/GLNSS/Bediou during peace time isn’t a problem. The issue is relying on them during a major conflict if any of the above parties (US, Russia, China) make a concerted effort to block Iranian military from accessing their satellites.

During peace times, USA restricts access to precise positioning signals through different procedures such as deliberate errors in transmitted signals from satellites. Americans can easily Decode them and remove errors.

On the contrary during war times, as we witnessed during American invasion of Iraq/Afghanistan, USA removes those deliberate errors from signals to reduce Random errors in positioning process and also reducing the required time of Processing received signals. Even one second is vital. Hence GPS will be a valuable asset for Iran during war times.

 

[vizier]

I thin relay drones were also used to carry the signals as a stop gap until sat comm became available.

The stop gap measures need to stay there as other than jamming enemy asat would be able to take down satcom. An alternative relay drone measure can be using high alt balloons as pseudo satellites. They will be hard to hit a2a at high altitudes and small size also considering the balloon part is radar opaque.

Sending the balloons up would be difficult with wind carrying them away and similar but they can be launched from planes at higher altitudes at less dense atmosphere or even rockets can launch them from ground up to high altitudes slowing down and releasing them at that altitude. It would work well on defending your airspace with drones(sidewinder equipped karrar drone and future a2a drone variants). For long range anti-shipping at seas and cross-border long range drone operations you would need fixed wing relay drones though.

 

[SOHEIL]

 

[Aspen]

The stop gap measures need to stay there as other than jamming enemy asat would be able to take down satcom. An alternative relay drone measure can be using high alt balloons as pseudo satellites. They will be hard to hit a2a at high altitudes and small size also considering the balloon part is radar opaque.

View attachment 742640

Sending the balloons up would be difficult with wind carrying them away and similar but they can be launched from planes at higher altitudes at less dense atmosphere or even rockets can launch them from ground up to high altitudes slowing down and releasing them at that altitude. It would work well on defending your airspace with drones(sidewinder equipped karrar drone and future a2a drone variants). For long range anti-shipping at seas and cross-border long range drone operations you would need fixed wing relay drones though.

It could work but it is definitely not a long term solution, stop gap measure until something better is developed. But it is also better than nothing.